Benchmarking and economic analysis of the impact of geometric structural design on the thermoelectric performance of air‐cooled photovoltaic thermal systems

Abstract

For a sustainable system to be designed with the lowest possible cost, photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) system efficiency and heat transmission must be increased. The performance of each hybrid PV/T air system was examined using four air PV/T models with various geometric configurations. The examination of the various mathematical models revealed how each geometry configuration affected each system's performance. Air PV/T arrangements with expanded surfaces, like fins, enhance thermoelectric performance. According to the findings, the thermal efficiencies of finned absorber PV/T and finned Tedlar PV/T are, respectively, 80.3 and 77.54%. Additionally, the figures for electrical efficiencies are 11.88 and 11.93%, respectively. For these two types of PV/T systems, the annual energy output has increased and now stands at roughly 3242 and 3316 kWh/m2, respectively. Additionally, compared to other PV/T systems, the finned Tedlar PV/T system offers higher profitability in terms of cost and revenue according to an economic research.