Energy and exergy analysis of a photovoltaic thermal (PVT) system used in solar dryer: A numerical and experimental investigation


ÇİFTÇİ E., Khanlari A., SÖZEN A., Aytaç İ., Tuncer A. D.

RENEWABLE ENERGY, vol.180, pp.410-423, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 180
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.renene.2021.08.081
  • Journal Name: RENEWABLE ENERGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Environment Index, Geobase, Greenfile, Index Islamicus, INSPEC, Pollution Abstracts, Public Affairs Index, Veterinary Science Database, DIALNET, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.410-423
  • Keywords: Vertical, PVT collector, Fin, Solar drying, Energy-exergy, PHASE-CHANGE MATERIAL, FORCED-CONVECTION, AIR COLLECTOR, PERFORMANCE, HEATER, ENHANCEMENT, KINETICS, DESIGN, PLATE, FINS
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) collectors can be applied in order to concurrently generation of electrical and thermal energy. In the present study, a vertical hybrid PVT solar dryer has been developed and analyzed by utilizing numerical and experimental approaches. ANSYS Fluent software has been employed to visualize both flow and thermal behavior inside the vertical PVTs. The main aim of using vertical structure of PVT dryer is its space-saving potential. For enhancing heat transfer, fins have been integrated over the absorber plate and PV panel. The obtained experimental findings showed that thermal efficiency values of the finless and finned vertical PVT collectors were in the ranges of 47.46-54.86% and 50.25-58.16%, respectively. Moreover, sustainability index values of finless and finned drying systems were achieved between 2.16-2.75 and 2.38-3.25, respectively. The obtained results showed that applying high air flow rate in finned vertical dryer notably improved the drying performance. In addition, the deviation between numerical and experimental findings obtained in the range of 4.2-8.7%. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.