Enhanced PV module system for improved electricity conversion

Several applications such as solar electric propulsion, solar desalination and photochemical are derived from solar energy. The conversion of solar radiation into electrical energy has been intensified in the past decades with wide applications for human development. Photovoltaic (PV) modules convert solar radiation into electrical energy; however, it has low output energy efficiency mainly due to the increase in solar cell temperature. Most of the incoming solar radiation absorbed is discarded to the PV modules as wasted heat. This wasted heat generated can be utilized and transferred to a heat exchanger in contact to the rear PV modules. A proposed model is considered with a variation of solar cell temperature due to solar radiation and its effects on output power are modeled and evaluated. Seeing PV modules as a thermal absorber, a part of the heat dissipated in the PV modules can be recovered by means of a heat transfer fluid (such as water) running behind the PV modules. This method improves the PV efficiency, as well as produces thermal and electrical energy simultaneously. Thus, the PV modules provide a multifunctional performance cited above. This plays the role of a PVT hybrid solar collector (a combination of separate PV panels and solar thermal collectors) system. The aim of this study is to improve the efficiency of the PV module, through the analysis of a detailed PVT collector model performance. The study also estimates the electrical power and thermal energy produced, using MATLAB/Simscape as an application-oriented design method.