Sains Malaysiana 42(9)(2013): 1319–1325

 

Performance Study of Air-based Photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) Collector

with Different Designs of Heat Exchanger

(Kajian Prestasi Pengumpul Fotovoltan-terma (PV/T) Berasaskan Udara dengan

Beberapa Reka Bentuk Penyerap Haba)

 

 

Mohd. Yusof Hj. Othman1*, Faridah Hussain2, Kamaruzzman Sopian1, Baharuddin Yatim1 & Hafidz Ruslan1

1Institut Penyelidikan Tenaga Suria (SERI). Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

43600 Bangi, Selangor, D.E. Malaysia

 

2Makmal Metrologi Kebangsaan, SIRIM Berhad, 43900 Sepang, Selangor, D.E.Malaysia

 

Received: 26 November 2012/Accepted: 2 February 2013

 

ABSTRACT

Three different designs of heat exchanger, V-groove, honeycomb and stainless steel wool had been tested to study their effectiveness in improving the overall performance of a photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) air base solar collector. Heat exchangers were installed horizontally into the channel located at the back side of the PV module. The system was tested at irradiance of 828 W/m2 with mass flow rate spanning from 0.02 kg/s to 0.13 kg/s. It was observed that at mass flow rate of 0.11 kg/s, the maximum thermal efficiency of the system with V-groove is 71%, stainless steel wool is 86% and honeycomb is 87%. The electrical efficiency of the systems is 7.04%, 6.88% and 7.13%, respectively. The experimental results showed that honeycomb design is the most efficient design as heat exchanger. The design which is simple and compact is suitable for building integration.

 

Keywords: Electrical efficiency; heat exchanger; photovoltaic/thermal; thermal efficiency

 

 

ABSTRAK

Tiga penyerap haba dengan reka bentuk yang berbeza iaitu lengkuk-V, sarang lebah dan serabut keluli tahan karat telah diuji untuk mengkaji keberkesanannya bagi menambahbaik prestasi keseluruhan pengumpul fotovoltan terma (PV/T) berasaskan udara. Kesemua penyerap haba dipasang secara selari ke dalam ruang bawah modul fotovoltan. Sistem telah diuji pada keamatan sinaran 828 W/m2 dan kadar aliran jisim udara 0.02 kg/s hingga 0.13 kg/s. Didapati, pada kadar aliran jisim udara 0.11 kg/s, maksimum kecekapan terma untuk sistem dengan lengkuk-V adalah 71%, sarang lebah 86% dan serabut keluli tahan karat 87%. Manakala kecekapan elektrik pula adalah 7.04%, 6.88% dan 7.13% masing-masing. Keputusan uji kaji merumuskan bahawa penyerap haba berbentuk sarang lebah adalah reka bentuk penyerap haba yang paling cekap. Reka bentuknya ringkas dan padat serta sesuai untuk diintegrasikan ke dalam bangunan.

 

Kata kunci: Fotovoltan/terma; kecekapan elektrik; kecekapan terma; penyerap haba

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*Corresponding author; email: myho@ukm.my

 

 

 

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