COMBINED UNCOVERED SHEET-AND-TUBE PVTCOLLECTOR SYSTEM WITH BUILT-IN STORAGE WATER HEATER

This work describes the design and investigation of a simple combined uncovered sheet-and-tube photo-voltaic-thermal (PVT) collector system. The PVTcollector system consists of a support, standard PV module (1.22 x 0.305 m, area=0.37m^2, fill factor=0.75), sheet-and-tube water collector and storage tank-heater. The collector was fixed under PV module. Inclination angle of the PVT-collector to the horizontal plane was 45 degree. The storage tank-heater played double role i.e. for storage of hot water and for water heating. The PVT-collector system could work in the fixed and tracking modes of operation. During investigations of PVT-collector in natural conditions, solar irradiance, voltage and current of PV module, ambient temperature and water temperature in storage tank were measured. Average thermal and electrical powers of the PVT-collector system at the tracking mode of operation observed were 39W and 21W, with efficiencies of 15% and 8% respectively at the input power of 260W. The maximum temperature of the water obtained was 42 oC. The system was observed efficient for low-temperature applications. The PVT-collector system may be used as a prototype for design of PVT-collector system for domestic application, teaching aid and for demonstration purposes.