Volume 65

Analysis of the Impact of Temperature Uniformity on the Electrical-Thermal Performance of Photovoltaic-Thermal Modules Lei Liu, Shan Jiang, Zunhao Tu, Yao Zhao, Yanjun Dai

Abstract

Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) systems have gained increasing attention due to their heat and power co-generation capabilities and high efficiency. However, improper collector design may lead to uneven temperature distribution on the photovoltaic cells, resulting in electrical mismatch and power degradation. This paper presents a PVT module based on micro heat pipe arrays (MHPA) and develops an electrical-thermal coupling model that incorporates temperature distribution. Through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, the effects of heat pipe filling rate, tilt angle, and surface treatment on the heat transfer performance is analyzed. By incorporating this into the electrical model, the effects of temperature distribution on power output are quantitatively evaluated, offering design recommendations for achieving temperature uniformity and enhancing the electrical and thermal efficiency of PVT systems.

Keywords Solar energy, photovoltaic-thermal, temperature uniformity, electrical-thermal simulation.