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Advances on Performance, Evaluation and Applications of Solar Thermal and Solar Hybrid PV-T Collectors

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A2: Solar Energy and Photovoltaic Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2022) | Viewed by 25204

Special Issue Editors

Dr. María Herrando

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Aragon Institute of Technology (ITAINNOVA), 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Interests: energy efficiency; renewable energy; solar energy; hybrid PVT collectors; multi-physics systems
Prof. Dr. Alba Ramos Cabal

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Industrial de Barcelona (ETSEIB), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Interests: solar energy; renewable energy systems; energy efficiency; building integration photovoltaics; thermal energy storage

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Efficient use of solar energy is key for the worldwide transformation of the energy system to deal with the global energy crisis and climate change. With heat accounting for about half of the global energy demand, Solar Thermal and Solar Hybrid PV-T collectors appear as potential technologies to meet a significant proportion of the global heat needs through renewable heat. Moreover, their modularity allows their integration into urban environments, which is of great importance due to the large energy losses incurred when heat is transported. The current Special Issue of Energies aims at gathering recent advances on the performance, evaluation and applications of solar thermal and solar hybrid PV-T collectors. Manuscripts addressing, but not limited to, any of the topics below are welcome:

  • New designs and optimization of solar thermal and/or solar hybrid PV-T collectors
  • Performance assessment and/or forecasting methods of solar thermal and/or solar hybrid PV-T collectors
  • Performance and evaluation of solar thermal and/or solar hybrid PV-T collectors integrated into wider systems
  • Applications of solar thermal and/or solar hybrid PV-T systems, such as combined heating, power and/or cooling in buildings, solar desalination, solar for hydrogen production or solar drying
  • Technical, economic, cost, environmental and/or policy assessments of solar thermal and/or PV-T systems

Dr. María Herrando
Prof. Dr. Alba Ramos Cabal
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • solar thermal collectors
  • solar hybrid PV-T collectors
  • design and optimization
  • performance assessment
  • environmental assessment
  • combined heating, power and/or cooling
  • solar desalination
  • solar for hydrogen production
  • solar cooling
  • solar collectors breakthroughs and challenges
  • economics and policy

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 6458 KiB  
Article
A Solar Dually PVT Driven Direct Expansion Heat Pump One-Year Field Operation Results at Continental Climate
by Asier Sanz, Antonio J. Martín, Ainhoa Pereda, Eduardo Román, Pedro Ibañez and Raquel Fuente
Energies 2022, 15(9), 3205; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15093205 - 27 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2230
Abstract
The high energy-consuming building sector needs to meet both electricity and heat demands. In a nearly zero energy building scenario, most of the consumed energy would be generated locally by means of renewable solutions that nowadays seem not to provide an attractive performance [...] Read more.
The high energy-consuming building sector needs to meet both electricity and heat demands. In a nearly zero energy building scenario, most of the consumed energy would be generated locally by means of renewable solutions that nowadays seem not to provide an attractive performance or cost-competitiveness. Solar-based technologies tend to be the most promising ones, but for high densely populated areas, the usual photovoltaic or thermal single approaches may not be efficient enough. The current work is focused on the analysis of the dual use of the solar resource by means of hybrid PVT collectors and their smart combination with direct expansion heat pumps through predictive control strategies. To that end, a system was developed, installed in a real-use single-family house at a continental climate for domestic hot water application, operated and monitored for one entire year. The average day indicator results show 83% renewable energy share, 220% self-sufficiency ratio, 41% heat pump self-consumption and 46% of the solar fraction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances on Performance, Evaluation and Applications of Solar Thermal and Solar Hybrid PV-T Collectors)
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29 pages, 10901 KiB  
Article
Numerical Analysis of a Residential Energy System That Integrates Hybrid Solar Modules (PVT) with a Heat Pump
by Len Rijvers, Camilo Rindt and Corry de Keizer
Energies 2022, 15(1), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15010096 - 23 Dec 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3449
Abstract
Photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) collectors are hybrid solar collectors that convert solar and ambient energy into thermal and electrical energy. Integrated PVT-HP, in which PVT collectors are combined with a heat pump, offers an efficient and renewable option to replace conventional fossil fuel-based energy systems [...] Read more.
Photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) collectors are hybrid solar collectors that convert solar and ambient energy into thermal and electrical energy. Integrated PVT-HP, in which PVT collectors are combined with a heat pump, offers an efficient and renewable option to replace conventional fossil fuel-based energy systems in residential buildings. Currently, system concepts in which the selection, design and control of the components are aligned towards the system performance are lacking. The development of a system model enables the comparison of a variety of system parameters and system designs, informed decision making based on the energetic performance and the market diffusion of PVT-HP systems. This contribution presents a simulation model of a PVT-HP system. By means of numerical simulations, with simulation program TRNSYS, the energetic performance of a PVT-HP system and the system components are investigated. It is shown that the PVT-HP can cover the annual energy demand of a residential building. The corresponding Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF) is equal to 3.6. Furthermore, the effect of varying weather conditions, occupancy and building orientations on the performance of the reference system is analyzed. The SPF for the investigated scenarios varies between 3.0 and 3.9. Lastly, two system parameters, the PVT collector area, and the PVT collector type are varied as an initial step in the optimization of the system performance. To sum up, the presented PVT-HP model is suitable for dynamic system simulation and the exploration of the system concepts. The simulation study shows that a PVT-HP system can cover the annual energy demand of a residential building. Lastly, parametric variations showcase the optimization potential of PVT-HP systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances on Performance, Evaluation and Applications of Solar Thermal and Solar Hybrid PV-T Collectors)
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21 pages, 8400 KiB  
Article
Experimental Validation of a Dynamic Photovoltaic/Thermal Collector Model in Combination with a Thermal Energy Storage Tank
by Klemen Sredenšek, Sebastijan Seme, Bojan Štumberger, Miralem Hadžiselimović, Amor Chowdhury and Zdravko Praunseis
Energies 2021, 14(23), 8162; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14238162 - 6 Dec 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2750
Abstract
The primary objective of this paper is to present a dynamic photovoltaic/thermal collector model in combination with a thermal energy storage tank. The added value of the proposed model is the use and integration of existing dynamic models for describing the entire photovoltaic/thermal [...] Read more.
The primary objective of this paper is to present a dynamic photovoltaic/thermal collector model in combination with a thermal energy storage tank. The added value of the proposed model is the use and integration of existing dynamic models for describing the entire photovoltaic/thermal system. The presented model was validated using measurements on the experimental system located at the Institute of Energy Technology, Faculty of Energy Technology, University of Maribor. The validation was carried out based on three different weather conditions—sunny, cloudy, and overcast. The validation results were evaluated using the normalized root mean square error and mean absolute percentage error for the temperature and output power of the photovoltaic/thermal collector and the temperature of the thermal energy storage tank. The model results concurred with the measurements, as the average mean absolute percentage error values for the temperature and output power of the photovoltaic/thermal collector and thermal energy storage tank temperature were 5.82%, 1.51%, and 7.58% respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances on Performance, Evaluation and Applications of Solar Thermal and Solar Hybrid PV-T Collectors)
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18 pages, 2995 KiB  
Article
Electrical Efficiency Increase in CPVT Collectors by Spectral Splitting
by Alois Resch and Robert Höller
Energies 2021, 14(23), 8128; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14238128 - 3 Dec 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2100
Abstract
Concentrating photovoltaic-thermal (CPVT) collectors have to face the challenge of contrary temperature requirements in the single receiver parts. The PV cells require low temperatures to achieve high efficiency, whereas the thermal part should generate high temperatures for providing industrial heat. The approach of [...] Read more.
Concentrating photovoltaic-thermal (CPVT) collectors have to face the challenge of contrary temperature requirements in the single receiver parts. The PV cells require low temperatures to achieve high efficiency, whereas the thermal part should generate high temperatures for providing industrial heat. The approach of “Spectral Splitting” can offer a solution for compact CPVT receivers; however, a clear quantification of the expected conversion efficiency is difficult. Therefore, this paper describes a modelling methodology for obtaining electrical and thermal performance parameters for a Spectral Splitting configuration using semiconductor-doped glass combined with appropriate heat transfer fluid. The PV technologies c-Si, CIGS and CdTe are considered. The presented model yields distinct results for maximising the electrical efficiency, calculates the reduction in waste heat dissipation within the cells and assesses the impacts of concentration factor and cell temperature. An optimised configuration could be found with CIGS cells, impinged by a selected wavelength spectrum between 868 nm and 1100 nm, where the theoretical efficiency reaches 42.9%. The waste heat dissipation within the cells is reduced by 84.9%, compared to a full-spectrum operation. The depicted CPVT receiver design using bendable thin-film PV cells will be realised as a prototype in a subsequent project phase. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances on Performance, Evaluation and Applications of Solar Thermal and Solar Hybrid PV-T Collectors)
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15 pages, 4983 KiB  
Article
Energy and Environmental Performance of Solar Thermal Collectors and PV Panel System in Renovated Historical Building
by Miroslaw Zukowski, Marta Kosior-Kazberuk and Tomasz Blaszczynski
Energies 2021, 14(21), 7158; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14217158 - 1 Nov 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3171
Abstract
The major intent of this article was to determine the amount of energy received by two active systems used to convert solar radiation and to estimate their impact on reducing the emission of pollutants. Thermal solar collectors with an area of 51.36 m [...] Read more.
The major intent of this article was to determine the amount of energy received by two active systems used to convert solar radiation and to estimate their impact on reducing the emission of pollutants. Thermal solar collectors with an area of 51.36 m2 and photovoltaic panels with an area of 50.4 m2 were subject to comparative analysis. It was assumed that either of the two systems could be installed on the roof of an old tenement house located in Poznan (Poland), which is planned for renovation. Computer simulations made with DesignBuilder software were used as a research tool. Two main conclusions can be drawn from the analysis of the year-long operation of both systems in the conditions of a typical meteorological year. Thermal solar collectors can produce 469 kWh of heat from 1 m2 of the device annually, while PV panels can generate 136 kWh of electricity per year from 1 m2 of active area. However, it turned out that the use of photovoltaic systems can contribute to a higher reduction in pollutants emitted to the atmosphere as a result of the alternative combustion of fossil fuels. Additionally, the optimal angle of inclination of devices for solar radiation conversion located near Poznan was determined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances on Performance, Evaluation and Applications of Solar Thermal and Solar Hybrid PV-T Collectors)
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13 pages, 3956 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Performance Analysis Using TRNSYS Software of Hybrid Systems with PV-T
by Sebastian Pater
Energies 2021, 14(21), 6921; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14216921 - 21 Oct 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4335
Abstract
A hybrid photovoltaic-thermal collector (PV-T) with the capability to produce thermal energy and electrical energy simultaneously has attracted the attention of researchers, especially in terms of improving PV-T performance. This study analyses the work of four model installations with PV-T and other devices [...] Read more.
A hybrid photovoltaic-thermal collector (PV-T) with the capability to produce thermal energy and electrical energy simultaneously has attracted the attention of researchers, especially in terms of improving PV-T performance. This study analyses the work of four model installations with PV-T and other devices built in the transient systems simulation program. The novelty of this article lies in a long-term approach to the operation of PV-T panels under selected climatic conditions. Influence of the installation’s configuration on the obtained temperatures of solar cells, and, in consequence, on electric power generated by PV-T and the amount of heat produced during one year in a selected location is presented. Among others, the impact of the temperature coefficient of photovoltaic cells for long-term PV-T operation was analyzed in the paper. The results showed that the type of cell used may decrease the yearly electric energy production from PV-T even by 7%. On the other hand, intensification of the process of heat reception from PV-T using a heat pump increased this production by 6% in relation to the base model. The obtained research results indicate possible methods for improving the effectiveness of PV-T operation in a long-term aspect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances on Performance, Evaluation and Applications of Solar Thermal and Solar Hybrid PV-T Collectors)
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Review

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28 pages, 2626 KiB  
Review
Photovoltaic-Thermal (PV-T) Systems for Combined Cooling, Heating and Power in Buildings: A Review
by María Herrando and Alba Ramos
Energies 2022, 15(9), 3021; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15093021 - 20 Apr 2022
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 5839
Abstract
Heating and cooling (H/C) represent the largest share of energy consumption worldwide. Buildings are the main consumers of H/C, while the share of renewable energy for H/C provision still represents a low percentage, 22.0% in 2019. Hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) systems are gaining increasing [...] Read more.
Heating and cooling (H/C) represent the largest share of energy consumption worldwide. Buildings are the main consumers of H/C, while the share of renewable energy for H/C provision still represents a low percentage, 22.0% in 2019. Hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) systems are gaining increasing attention both in research and in applications, as they generate both electricity and useful heat simultaneously. The relevance and potential of PV-T collectors and their integration into wider systems are evident, but there is still a lack of review articles that address the potential of these systems in building applications in a comprehensive way. This work aims to review the state-of-the-art of PV-T collectors for building applications, as well as the corresponding PV-T systems for solar combined cooling, heating and power (S-CCHP) provision. The novelties of this work involve the comparison of these systems with conventional solar H/C technologies, the review of the market of H/C technologies, a summary of the challenges for the wider integration of S-CCHP systems and proposal lines of work to improve the cost-competitiveness of these systems. The first section summarises the focus and findings of previous reviews, followed by an overview of the current development status of the main types of PV-T collectors. Then, PV-T-based S-CCHP systems are reviewed, and the potential of PV-T systems’ penetration in the built environment is evaluated and discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances on Performance, Evaluation and Applications of Solar Thermal and Solar Hybrid PV-T Collectors)
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