Technical and economic analysis of a novel asymmetric PVT hybrid solar collector

Abstract

PVT collectors produce both electricity and heat from the same area. A novel design for concentrating asymmetric PVT collector has been tested. By flowing the water inside the collector increases the electrical efficiency and produce hot water. For characterizing the new prototype, a test set-up was constructed in Älvkarleby at Solarus AB laboratory and in University of Darlana, Sweden to evaluate the electrical and thermal parameters. The results are discussed and an electrical and thermal performance analysis have been done with the Solarus PVT collector. The electrical efficiency has been observed with cell and receiver temperature. A thermal comparison is established between two different climates. One special prototype has been made for this thesis work with two different selective surface. The thermal efficiency respectively at zero reduced temperature for these two types of selective surfaces were 0.65 and 0.64, the U-value was 8.366 W/m2°C for the trough with Solkote selective coating and 8.606 W/m2°C for the trough with Q loss selective surface coating. The annual thermal output of these two selective surfaces has been calculated for two different geographic locations, Dhaka, Bangladesh and Älvkarleby, Sweden. An economic analysis has been performed of the Solarus collector for matured (subsidy free) and early adopter (with subsidy) market. The total cost with internal rate of return (IRR) has been calculated for different number of Solarus collector in Sweden. The potential customer and market have been identified.