Performance analysis of a concentrating solar hybrid photovoltaic thermal system

The photovoltaic components of a hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) system are combined with a solar thermal collector, which generates both thermal and electrical energy simultaneously with a higher integrated efficiency. A three dimensional steady model of the concentrating solar PV/T system which has a plate type metallic thermal collector with a serpentine rectangular channel is developed. The processes of photovoltaic and thermal transformation and heat transfer in the PV/T collector are calculated and simulated. The effects of the optical concentrating ratio, coolant mass flow rate, ambient air velocity and glass cover on both thermal and electrical performance of the collector are presented and discussed.