Comparative analysis of thermal and electrical performance in photovoltaic/thermal collectors with different absorber plate designs via CFD simulations

This study presents a comparative analysis of the thermal and electrical performances of photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) solar collectors, focusing on the impact of different absorber plate designs. The standard PV/T collector features a flat plate aluminum absorber, while the alternatives incorporate finned absorber plates with 112 and 229 aluminum fins, respectively. Each absorber plate is positioned directly beneath the photovoltaic (PV) cells, enabling efficient thermal management through water cooling. The performance evaluation was conducted under standard Eurofins test conditions for PV/T collectors, with an irradiance of 1000 W/m² and a water flow rate of 0.03 kg/s. Thermal performance was assessed by measuring the water outlet temperature, while electrical performance was determined by considering reference efficiency, temperature coefficient, PV cell temperature, and reference temperature. The results indicate that the design of the absorber plate significantly impacts both thermal and electrical efficiencies. The collector with 229 fins exhibited better thermal performance, achieving the highest water outlet temperature, effectively cooling the PV cells, and enhancing electrical efficiency. Conversely, the standard flat plate absorber displayed lower thermal performance, and its corresponding electrical efficiency was lower due to higher PV cell temperatures. The collector with 112 fins demonstrated intermediate performance, reflecting a balance between thermal and electrical outputs. These findings underscore the critical role of absorber plate design in PV/T systems, suggesting that increasing the number of fins can significantly enhance both thermal and electrical efficiencies. Therefore, this research contributes to the optimization of PV/T collector designs, promoting more efficient and sustainable solar energy solutions.