According to a new study, solar collectors that split sunlight are significantly more efficient at generating combined thermal and electrical energy. Spectral-splitting photovoltaic-thermal solar collectors are an emerging technology used for harvesting solar energy that work by directing different parts of the solar spectrum to suitable receivers.
In sum, PVT collector and ETC are the most cost-effective solar collectors with both absorption and adsorption cooling systems. Moreover, the installation of solar cooling systems in hot arid climate is more profitable rather than in warm temperate and boreal climates. 5.3. Environmental results
A novel design of concentrating photovoltaic thermal collector is proposed. Cooling systems driven by CPVT and PVT collectors exhibit the best performance. PVT and ETC are the most cost-effective collectors to drive solar cooling systems. ETC driven cooling systems are the most eco-friendly.
LCCP of (a) SABC and (b) SADC systems driven by various collectors’ types in the selected regions. In the light of the results discussed above, one can conclude that CPVT is proven to be the most efficient solar collector to be deployed with absorption cooling system in all climatic conditions.
The progress of solar energy conversion technologies during the last few decades triggered the development of various types of collectors, thermal, photovoltaic (PV), or hybrid. In this paper, authors present the basic elements of thermal (energy and exergy) analysis solar collectors and their efficiency.
High temperatures that are required to achieve the utmost efficiency can be obtained by increasing the energy flux density of the solar radiation incident on a collector. According to Lupu et al. energy efficiency of a solar thermal collector is: ... ... Cp, m, and T are latent heat, mass of plate, and temperature, respectively.