Boosting Electrical Generation of a Photovoltaic Array by Thermal Harvest from p-Si Cells: An Experimental and Theoretical Study

Abstract

Solar power generation deployment is increasing globally with photovoltaic modules. Most energy available to conventional PV is absorbed as heat or passes through. Performance of Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) collectors which mimic currently available, polycrystalline, commercial PV modules was measured in the mid-Atlantic US. A linear model is developed for their performance which uses values available in Typical Meteorological Year files and shows daily accuracies to within 11%. Pressure losses for the collectors were measured and an empirical model established. Electrical generation is modeled by PVT in conjunction with an Organic Rankine Cycle. 20% - 45% boosts to electricity production in the Southwest are projected. 5%-15% boosts are projected in the mid-Atlantic.