Title

Design and development of a hydronic system for temperature regulation and heat harvesting in a building integrated photovoltaic thermal panel

Conference Dates

November 4-6, 2019

Abstract

In recent years, solar energy has drawn vast attention as an abundant source of clean renewable energy. However, a common issue with the solar panels is the reduction of their efficiency and the output power with increased temperature of the panel’s surface. For every degree rise in temperature, the efficiency decreases by about 0.40 – 0.50%. In addition, the absorbed heat accelerates the aging of the cells and shortens their lifespan. Herein, a novel design is presented to reduce the temperature of the cells by means of a hydronic loop system integrated on the backside of the panel. In this design, aluminum tubes that are cast inside a foamed aluminum layer are integrated on the backside of the solar panel and a fluid with high heat capacity circulates inside the tubes in a closed loop. The fluid absorbs the heat when it comes in contact with the panels and thus, reduces the surface temperature of the cells and makes them cooler. Therefore, the water is acted as both a heat sink and a heat collector. The heated fluid is then transferred to the facility room of the building via a pump to heat a water tank indirectly. As a result, the temperature of the panel can be regulated during the operation time, and the harvested heat could be used for warm water applications in the building. This system not only maintains the efficiency of the solar panels at its feasible peak but also harvests heat and reduces the total energy consumption of the building.

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Additional Files
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