Numerical investigation of concentrating photovoltaic/thermal (CPV/T) system using compound hyperbolic -trumpet, V-trough and compound parabolic concentrators

A novel configuration of concentrating-photovoltaic system, compound hyperbolic concentrator-trumpet photovoltaic-thermal system (CHCT-PVT), has been proposed to enhance electrical-efficiency by reducing reflector size. CHCT-PVT was compared with the conventional non-imaging concentrators; V-trough-PVT (VT-PVT) and compound parabolic concentrator-PVT (CPC-PVT) systems. 2D-Ray-tracing analysis was carried out to decide energy flux. The numerical investigation was applied to decide the PV-cell-temperature. The electrical performances were determined regarding cell-temperature and solar radiation intensity. The results show that the CHC-PVT system can generate almost the same electrical power with that of CPC and V-trough system at the normal incidence angle, although CHC requires almost half size as V-trough or CPC for same concentration. It will forge ahead CHC for a CPVT using a sun tracking system. The largest electrical-efficiency was achieved for the CHC system. The electrical efficiencies of PVs using CPC, V-trough, and CHC-trumpet are 18.44%, 18.51%, and 18.59%, respectively. CHCT-PVT, the power output was about 42.9% higher than the CPC-PVT and about 58.97% higher than the VT-PVT systems per the reflector unit area. The results indicate that the CHCT-PVT system is a preferable alternative to CPVTs using conventional non-imaging reflectors. CHC may provide more apparent advancement for a CPV-system. (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.