Photovoltaic Roof Tiles: The Influence of Heat Recovery on Overall Performance

Jan Wajs; Aleksandra Golabek; Roksana Bochniak

doi:10.3390/en12214097

Energies (Oct 2019)

Photovoltaic Roof Tiles: The Influence of Heat Recovery on Overall Performance

Jan Wajs,
Aleksandra Golabek,
Roksana Bochniak

Affiliations

Jan Wajs: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Energy and Industrial Apparatus, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
Aleksandra Golabek: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Energy and Industrial Apparatus, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
Roksana Bochniak: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Energy and Industrial Apparatus, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en12214097
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 21
p. 4097

Abstract

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A photovoltaic (PV) roof tile serves both as a roofing material and as an electricity-producing surface. The main aim of the present study was to increase the overall system efficiency of PV tiles by using heat recovery. The chosen strategy was two-fold: determine the operational efficiency of PV tiles and optimize construction to increase the cooling effect when using air as the working medium. A detailed experimental study was undertaken to determine these effects. The results indicated that a combined electrical and thermal efficiency of 24% could be reached. This is promising and proves the potential for air to be the working medium in such systems. Moreover, this shows a direction for future system optimization.

Published in Energies

ISSN: 1996-1073 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/energies

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