DESIGN & ANALYSIS OF HYBRID PVT WATER COLLECTOR

The growing consensus among the scientific community regarding climate change and the acknowledgment of the adverse effect of fossil fuel on the environment has caused a major shift toward renewable energy. However renewable energy has emerged as a messiah to the current climate catastrophe, but its

Project Title

DESIGN & ANALYSIS OF HYBRID PVT WATER COLLECTOR

Project Area of Specialization

Mechanical Engineering

Project Summary

The growing consensus among the scientific community regarding climate change and the acknowledgment of the adverse effect of fossil fuel on the environment has caused a major shift toward renewable energy. However renewable energy has emerged as a messiah to the current climate catastrophe, but its true potential is yet to be unlocked. There is no denying that solar energy is one of the cheapest and most readily available form of energy, but a lot of work is yet to be done to validify and improvise its effectiveness. 
The combination of photovoltaic technology with solar thermal technology has indicated some promising results. Thus, it is a meaningful area of research.
Photovoltaic (PV) technology works by converting solar energy into electricity. However, studies suggests that increased operating temperatures have significantly affects the output efficiency of the PV cell. A hybrid combination, known as thermal photovoltaic (PVT), of solar thermal collectors and PV cells has produced positive results and can produce low operating temperature and subsequently higher efficiency.

Project Objectives

The objective of this project is to achieve a more efficient Photovoltaic Thermal System by using a new photovoltaic thermal solar collector (PVT) based on water systems. The hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems are one of the most common methods for cooling photoelectric panels and improve performance. The heat from the PV panel is transferred through working fluids such as water. The extracted heat is used in low-temperature applications, including household hot water, etc.

Project Implementation Method

The efficiency of PV cell conversion from solar energy to electricity decreases as operating temperatures increase. Combining solar thermal collectors and PV cells in a system known as photovoltaic thermal (PVT) can reduce operating temperature and improve system efficiency. Solar thermal collectors are the device that generates heat and electricity by utilizing solar radiation, ultraviolet and infrared to produce thermal energy. This liquid may be used to heat water through a heat photovoltaic thermal (PVT) system. 

1. The PVT system is used to supply hot water for residential applications.
2. The PVT systems can also be used by coupling the systems with a turbine to produce electricity. 
3. The liquid used in the thermal collector can be air, water, or any other liquid. Many configurations and designs of solar collectors are developed today.
4. Photovoltaic (PV) technology converts solar energy into electricity for use in various applications such as water and space heating purposes, electrical use for home appliances, and solar drying. 
5. PVT systems can be used for a wide variety of applications, including PV in buildings, electricity generation in a photovoltaic power plant, PV satellites, desalination process for supplying drinkable water in coastal regions, and PV in agriculture. 
6. PVT also produces thermal energy and thermal energy simultaneously. Its applications are numerous and varied, namely, heating homes, meteorological data, swimming pools, greenhouses, hot water production, water distillation, cooking, water pumping, and production of electricity.

Benefits of the Project

1. The main way to reduce carbon footprint is to use more renewable energy. Why not think about solar panels for your roof? The main benefit of PVT collectors includes low carbon emissions. Living in a low-carbon way means not adding to or minimizing the amount of CO2, NO2, SO2 entering the atmosphere. One of the best ways to be low carbon is to be energy efficient, living a zero-waste lifestyle ensures you keep your carbon footprint low.  
2. The overall efficiency compared to normal PV collector increases which are quite beneficial if we consider it in terms of solar energy efficiency, warm water supply, and cost-effective ways. We will measure the overall efficiency of our PVT collector which provides warm water through solar energy which is free of cost and compare it with a normal electric heater which gives warm water through electricity (which cost a lot nowadays).

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

As we have not experimented yet, so we cannot provide the exact technical details but according to our research and analysis on the project's technicalities, we can easily determine the approximate results that can be achieved. Through a Photovoltaic Thermal Water Collector system we can achieve:

1. A decrease in the solar cell temperature using water as a heat transfer medium would increase the output efficiency by almost about 0.5% per 1 degree Celcius decrease in temperature. According to our analysis, we can achieve almost about a decrease of 15 degrees Celcius in the solar cell temperature using water which will help us to achieve an extra output efficiency of 7.5%
2. A hot water supply which will help us to provide heating to an environment as well as it can also be used in different industries and households as a warm water supply. According to our analysis, we can easily reduce the cost that is used to get hot water to our households by using water heater systems and its energy costs as well which will provide a significant decrease in the overall cost expenditures.
3. An emission less energy providing system with higher efficiency and clean energy technology will help us to provide a better sustainable environment for our future generations.
4. A higher energy generation system in a lower occupied space.

Final Deliverable of the Project

Hardware System

Core Industry

Energy

Other Industries

Others

Core Technology

Clean Tech

Other Technologies

Others

Sustainable Development Goals

Affordable and Clean Energy, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Climate Action

Required Resources

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