Optimization of number of collectors for integrated PV/T hybrid active solar still

• Published in: Applied energy Vol. 87; no. 5; pp. 1763 - 1772
• Main Authors: Gaur, M.K., Tiwari, G.N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2010; Elsevier
• Series: Applied Energy
• Subjects: Accumulators; Applied sciences; Basins; Collectors; Energy; Equipments, installations and applications; Exact sciences and technology; Exergy; Glass; Heat capacity; Hybrid active solar still; Natural energy; Optimization; Optimization PV; PV/T collector; Solar collectors; Solar energy; Solar thermal conversion; Summer; T collector Hybrid active solar still Exergy; India, Delhi; Exergy; PV/T collector; Optimization; Hybrid active solar still; Energy analysis; Solar collector; Methodology; Performance characteristic; Hybrid system; Solar still; Exergy analysis; Energetic efficiency; Photovoltaic array; Integrated system; Performance; Flat plate
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2009.10.019

The aim of this paper is to optimize the number of collectors for PV/T hybrid active solar still. The number of PV/T collectors connected in series has been integrated with the basin of solar still. The optimization of number of collectors for different heat capacity of water has been carried out on the basis of energy and exergy. Expressions of inner glass, outer glass and water temperature have been derived for the hybrid active solar system. For the numerical computations data of a summer day (May 22, 2008) for Delhi climatic condition have been used. It has been observed that with increase of the mass of water in the basin increases the optimum number of collector. However the daily and exergy efficiency decreases linearly and nonlinearly with increase of water mass. It has been observed that the maximum yield occurs at
N
=
4 for 50
kg of water mass on the basis of exergy efficiency. The thermal model has also been experimentally validated.