Experimental analysis of photovoltaic cogeneration modules

Abstract PhotoVoltaic/Thermal cogeneration (PV/T) technology seems to offer very interesting prospects, also considering recent economic incentives on renewable energies issued in Italy. Conversely, some problems have to be faced: good thermal behaviour of the module studying the best thermal exchange between the solar cells and the channelled plate below, selection of the best working temperature according to the need of the plant served by the solar modules, and selection of the best fl uid to remove heat. This paper reports on the fi rst results of a survey on electrical and thermal effi ciency of some PV/T prototypes, carried out at the experimental testing rig built in Vicenza, varying some parameters (solar radiation, water fl ow, inlet water temperature). Experimental measurements show very different results for the three PV/T collectors tested. For a particular collector a simulation model has been developed, based on a detailed analytical model, and simulated results have been compared to experimental results.