Marilena Mele

Predictive methods to estimate the producibility of PV/T solar collectors

In this work a simple predictive model to estimate PV/T collector performance is presented. The model is based on an equivalent electrical circuit of the collector, whose solution allows evaluation of its thermal and electrical power produced. The electrical circuit is modified according to whether the problem is solved in stationary or transient conditions. As regards the stationary approach, two different circuits can be schematized: the first allows evaluation of the magnitudes at different points along the motion direction of the fluid; the resolution of the second electric circuit allows direct evaluation of the average magnitudes between the inlet and outlet collector section. With the transient model, instead, it is possible to estimate the behaviour of the collector by adding, to the previous circuit, a capacitor of capacity equal to those of the thermal collector. Obviously, when the transient condition is exhausted, the various determined quantities are identical to those measured in stationary conditions. Finally, the study shows that the electrical circuit used for this type of collector is similar to that of the solar thermal collector, with the difference that some circuit components also contain electrical quantities.