Energy supply performance of air-, water-, and dual-cooled PV/T systems in different climatic zones of China

Abstract

Abstract Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T) is a technology that integrates the functions of both solar photovoltaic power generation (PV) and photothermal heat production (T), is also a good option and has been developed rapidly in the last decades. There are several ways to cool PV cells, however they are not suitable in all climates. This paper presents the result of a study on the energy supply performance of air-, water-, and dual-cooled PV/T systems in different climatic zones of China. The study investigates the impact of different cooling systems on the efficiency of PV/T systems and provides insights into the design and installation of these systems in different regions. The paper presents simulation results that indicate the effectiveness of air-cooled, water-cooled, and dual-cooling units in different temperature regions. The study finds that water-cooled systems have an irreplaceable advantage in terms of total efficiency, and the tuning method is relatively simple. However, caution is needed when choosing other cooling units in higher temperature regions. The research also highlights some limitations of the study, such as the lack of experimental data on extreme weather, calcification, dust, humidity, and other phenomena that can affect equipment efficiency. Overall, the study provides useful information for researchers and engineers working on the development and optimization of PV/T systems.