Experimental Investigation on a Photovoltaic Thermal Solar System with a Linear Fresnel Lens

Abstract

This article reports the experimental study on a concentrated photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) solar system. A nonimaging linear Fresnel lens was used as a solar concentrator to improve the density of solar energy on a PV/T collector surface. The PV/T collector consisted of a top copper cover and a serpentine channel in which water flowed. Eight pieces of monocrystalline PV cells were connected to one another in series and stuck on the top of the copper cover to produce electrical power. Water from a water storage tank flowed through the lower serpentine channel and removed heat to cool PV cells. The experimental studies were carried out on March 216 in Shanghai, China. Results showed that the total effective utilization of solar energy was approximately 53% for the concentrated PV/T system. Although the electrical efficiency of PV cells decreased by approximately 34.7% for the PV/T system with a nonimaging linear Fresnel lens on March 4, 216, the output power increased by 29% at the peak point. Another benefit was that the water storage tank can obtain high water temperature because the PV/T collector received high solar energy density by the linear Fresnel lens. The temperature increment in the water tank can reach 2°C, which was remarkably good to satisfy the daily demand of hot water.