Hybrid PV-T Solar Collector using Amorphous Type of Solar Cells for Solar Dryer

Solar energy that available in the form of radiation can be directly converted into heat and/or electricity using a solar device collector. Conventional solar thermal collectors generally convert sunlight into heat solely, an the other hand, a photovoltaic (PV) panels usually used solely for generating electricity. In this study, a photovoltaic solar panel is attempted to use both as solar thermal and as electricity generator at the same time so-called hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) collector for a solar dryer system. The literature related to hybrid PV-T applications are reviewed, and a small scale solar dryer utilizing amorphous type photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) as a collector is designed and tested. A 40 Wp amorphous solar panel is used as a solar collector and covered with double glass at the top. The output air temperature of the collector is found to vary from 35 to 50 °C during the day with the global solar irradiation of 300 - 1000 W/m². The output of electricity varies 4 - 25 Watt.