Overview

Photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) collectors combined PV modules and solar thermal collectors in a single device that produces electricity and heat simultaneously. Photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) collectors produce better overall energy compared to separate photovoltaic and solar thermal collectors. Through effective heat removal processes of the PV/T collectors, the electrical, thermal and overall solar efficiencies can be improved leading toward a better usability of solar energy.

Conventional photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collectors have been classified as air-based, water-based, and dual-fluid PVT collectors. Materials like nanofluids, phase change material (PCM), and nano-enhanced phase change material (NEPCM) have been incorporated, in various research studies, into PVT collectors. Different components such as concentrators, fins, heat exchangers, control devices, etc, have been investigated for their effect on the collector and system output.

Many advanced types of PVT collectors have been considered in the literature by combining different active and/or passive components such as the (i) Concentrated PVT with thermoelectric generators (CPVT-TEG), (ii) nanofluid cooled CPVT-TEG, and (iii) nanofluid-based PVT with PCM/NEPCM. However, to date, the gap between proposed concepts of PVT systems and their actual implementation in the industry is growing. This calls for the need to establish a more comprehensive research foundation and thus it is necessary to distinguish between conventional and advanced types of PVT collectors and to provide an overview of recent progress on the topic.

The aims of this review paper are to (i) present the conceptual design of different advanced PVT collectors, (ii) describe and assess recent developments in these collectors, and (iii) critically review the state of research in the field of advanced PVT systems.

Speaker

Professor Kamaruzzamn Sopian, Principal Research Fellow, Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Kamaruzzaman graduated with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Miami-Coral Gables. He is currently Principal Research Fellow at the Solar Energy Research Institute at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and a Fellow of the Malaysia Academy of Sciences.

His main contributions are in solar radiation modelling and resource assessment, advanced solar photovoltaic systems (grid-connected photovoltaic, solar powered regenerative fuel cell, solar hydrogen production, thin film silicon solar cell) and advanced solar thermal systems (solar cooling, solar heat pump, solar assisted drying, combined photovoltaic thermal or hybrid collector). He is listed in the Highly Cited Researchers Web of Science, Clarivate Analytics (2019–2022).

The material presented in this webinar has not been peer-reviewed. Any opinions are the presenter's own and do not necessarily represent those of IChemE or the Clean Energy Special Interest Group. The information is given in good faith but without any liability on the part of IChemE.

Time

15:00–16:00 MYT.

Software

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Webinar archive

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