Design, Construction, and Characterization of a Solar Photovoltaic Hybrid Heat Exchanger Prototype

Abstract

In this experimental work, a prototype of a hybrid solar–thermal–photovoltaic (HE-PV/T) heat exchanger has been designed, built, and characterized, with rectangular geometry and 12 fins inside, to obtain better heat flow and higher performance in order to achieve a better heat transfer coefficient, reducing and optimizing the working area. The heat exchanger contains 12 photovoltaic cells connected in series, with an angle of inclination of approximately 18° towards the south and a surface area of 0.22 m2, smaller than those available on the market, which individually capture 147.05 W/m2 as a photovoltaic panel and 240 W/m2 as a solar collector. Mathematical models found in the literature from previous work were used for the electrical and thermal evaluations. The temperature of the PV cells was reduced to 13.2 °C and the thermal level of the water was raised to a temperature above 70 °C, with a photovoltaic–thermal coupling power of 307.11 W and a heat transfer coefficient of 5790 W/m2 °C. The efficiencies obtained were as follows: thermal up to 0.78 and electrical up to 0.095. The novelty of these results was achieved in a reduced space of 40% less than those reported and available on the market.