Modeling and Performance Optimization of Hybrid Photovoltaic Thermal Air Collector with Fins Absorbers

A dynamic model for a hybrid photovoltaic thermal air collector with longitudinal fins absorbers was developed to enable assessment of their thermic and electric efficiency. In this paper, the effects of mass flow rate, number and height of fins on solar air collector performance are analyzed. A computer simulation program is developed to calculate the thermal and electrical parameters of a PV/T collector and validated through experimental results indicated in the previous literature. The results show that the overall efficiency of PV/T collector reaches: 98% for 0.073Kg/s mass flow rate, the efficiency increases as the number and the height of fins decreases. The results of the simulations are satisfactory and can be extrapolated for other types of sensors including the heat transfer mechanism.