Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of the Working Fluid Temperature Levels in a CPV/T System
A linear focus Concentrator Photovoltaic and Thermal (CPV/T) system can match the thermal demands of a user. The evaluation of the cooling fluid temperature levels of a CPV/T system is fundamental to understand if this system is capable of satisfying the typical thermal requirements of a residential...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/12/3077 |
| _version_ | 1827715033914671104 |
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| author | Carlo Renno |
| author_facet | Carlo Renno |
| author_sort | Carlo Renno |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A linear focus Concentrator Photovoltaic and Thermal (CPV/T) system can match the thermal demands of a user. The evaluation of the cooling fluid temperature levels of a CPV/T system is fundamental to understand if this system is capable of satisfying the typical thermal requirements of a residential user (heating, cooling and domestic hot water). First, an experimental line-focus CPV/T system, realized in the Laboratory of Applied Thermodynamics of the University of Salerno (Italy), has allowed to determine the cooling fluid temperature at the CPV/T system outlet. Successively, the cooling fluid temperatures, experimentally obtained, have been compared with the same temperatures calculated by means of a theoretical model under the same operation conditions. A deviation in terms of the percentage relative error between theoretical and experimental results included between about 0.5% and 5%, has been found. The goodness of the theoretical–experimental comparison in terms of the temperature of the operation fluid at the CPV/T system outlet has represented a fundamental point to evaluate theoretically, by means of the TRNSYS software, the other levels of temperature of an integrated system, constituted by CPV/T system, thermal tank and user, for different temporal scenarios (hourly, weekly, monthly and yearly). The input data of the TRNSYS model are: Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), Triple-Junction (TJ) cell temperature and environmental conditions. A tank model is also adopted to satisfy the thermal energy demand peaks, and the temperature stratification in the tank linked to the CPV/T system, as function of the height, is obtained in winter and summer. It is important to define these thermal levels to verify if a CPV/T system is capable to satisfy the residential user energy demands or a thermal energy integration is necessary in some periods of the year. A good stratification has been noted in the summer season, with temperature values that are variable between about 40 and 90 °C. From April to October, the tank average temperature is generally resulted about 10 °C higher than the temperature required by the fluid sent to the residential user, and a very low integration is then necessary. It has been verified that the CPV/T system covers a large part of the thermal energy needs of the residential user during the year; the coverage is limited only in the winter months. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:10:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2e496f9c492742c786f2b040197b4e60 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:10:55Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-2e496f9c492742c786f2b040197b4e602023-11-20T03:46:50ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732020-06-011312307710.3390/en13123077Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of the Working Fluid Temperature Levels in a CPV/T SystemCarlo Renno0Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, ItalyA linear focus Concentrator Photovoltaic and Thermal (CPV/T) system can match the thermal demands of a user. The evaluation of the cooling fluid temperature levels of a CPV/T system is fundamental to understand if this system is capable of satisfying the typical thermal requirements of a residential user (heating, cooling and domestic hot water). First, an experimental line-focus CPV/T system, realized in the Laboratory of Applied Thermodynamics of the University of Salerno (Italy), has allowed to determine the cooling fluid temperature at the CPV/T system outlet. Successively, the cooling fluid temperatures, experimentally obtained, have been compared with the same temperatures calculated by means of a theoretical model under the same operation conditions. A deviation in terms of the percentage relative error between theoretical and experimental results included between about 0.5% and 5%, has been found. The goodness of the theoretical–experimental comparison in terms of the temperature of the operation fluid at the CPV/T system outlet has represented a fundamental point to evaluate theoretically, by means of the TRNSYS software, the other levels of temperature of an integrated system, constituted by CPV/T system, thermal tank and user, for different temporal scenarios (hourly, weekly, monthly and yearly). The input data of the TRNSYS model are: Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), Triple-Junction (TJ) cell temperature and environmental conditions. A tank model is also adopted to satisfy the thermal energy demand peaks, and the temperature stratification in the tank linked to the CPV/T system, as function of the height, is obtained in winter and summer. It is important to define these thermal levels to verify if a CPV/T system is capable to satisfy the residential user energy demands or a thermal energy integration is necessary in some periods of the year. A good stratification has been noted in the summer season, with temperature values that are variable between about 40 and 90 °C. From April to October, the tank average temperature is generally resulted about 10 °C higher than the temperature required by the fluid sent to the residential user, and a very low integration is then necessary. It has been verified that the CPV/T system covers a large part of the thermal energy needs of the residential user during the year; the coverage is limited only in the winter months.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/12/3077concentrator photovoltaicworking fluid temperatureexperimental and theoretical model |
| spellingShingle | Carlo Renno Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of the Working Fluid Temperature Levels in a CPV/T System Energies concentrator photovoltaic working fluid temperature experimental and theoretical model |
| title | Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of the Working Fluid Temperature Levels in a CPV/T System |
| title_full | Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of the Working Fluid Temperature Levels in a CPV/T System |
| title_fullStr | Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of the Working Fluid Temperature Levels in a CPV/T System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of the Working Fluid Temperature Levels in a CPV/T System |
| title_short | Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of the Working Fluid Temperature Levels in a CPV/T System |
| title_sort | theoretical and experimental evaluation of the working fluid temperature levels in a cpv t system |
| topic | concentrator photovoltaic working fluid temperature experimental and theoretical model |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/12/3077 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT carlorenno theoreticalandexperimentalevaluationoftheworkingfluidtemperaturelevelsinacpvtsystem |