Simulation and Performance Evaluation of a Vacuum Insulated Hybrid Solar Photovoltaic/Thermal Power Module for Domestic Applications in South Africa

A flat-plate hybrid vacuum insulated Photovoltaic/Thermal (VIPV/T) solar power module has been graphically modelled and thermodynamically simulated under steady state conditions in Transient Systems Simulation (TRNSYS) software under the Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) weather characteristics for five urban locations of Durban (29°57’S), Pretoria (24°44’S), Cape Town (33°58’S), Kimberly (28°44’S) and Upington (28°44’S) all of which lie in different latitudes in the republic of South Africa. The hybrid PV/T system converts radiant energy from the sun into both electric and heat energy simultaneously. The annual thermal and electrical performances have been assessed and in the overall assessment, the maximum overall efficiency of 32.8% (19.2% thermal and 13.6% electrical), solar fraction of 85%, energy saving efficiency of 66% and the overall exergy efficiency of 32% have been realised in Upington while the minimum values of these parameters were obtained in the Durban. Parametric and sensitivity analysis performed on the collector inclination angle revealed an optimum value of 35° for all the locations at which the maximum outputs were obtained. An analysis of the thermal behaviour under the influence of the vacuum is extensively carried out and realised a mean increase in thermal and electrical efficiencies by 7% and 1.5% respectively.