Modeling and Simulation Analysis of Photovoltaic Photothermal Modules in Solar Heat Pump Systems

• Published in: Energies (Basel) 2024-03, Vol.17 (5), p.1042
• Main Authors: Sun, Tianbao, Li, Zhun, Gou, Yujun, Guo, Guangzheng, An, Yue, Fu, Yongqi, Li, Qingan, Zhong, Xiaohui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adhesives; Analysis; China; Construction; Efficiency; Electric power production; Embedded systems; Energy conservation; Heat; Heat storage; Innovations; International economic relations; Photovoltaic cells; PV/T modules; Radiation; Simulation; Simulink; Software; Solar collectors; Solar energy industry; solar heat pump; systems; Temperature
• ISSN: 1996-1073; 1996-1073
• DOI: 10.3390/en17051042

A solar heat pump based on the photovoltaic photothermal (PV/T) module is a new technology that can improve the photovoltaic efficiency and recovery of waste heat in photovoltaic conversion. The comprehensive efficiency of a system can thus be greatly improved. At present, there is little research on the simulation of a solar heat pump based on the Simulink 2018 software. In this paper, PV/T modules are modeled and simulated using the Simulink software based on the typical meteorological parameters in Beijing city during summer and winter conditions. Considering the system characteristics of a simultaneous operation, the models of all components such as the compressor, condenser, evaporator, expansion valve, and heat storage tanks contained in a system are established based on the system’s working principle, energy conservation equations, and some empirical formulas and then simulated. As PV/T modules are the key influencing factor for system performance, the model and simulation process are introduced in detail in this paper. The results show that the surface temperature of PV/T modules under different operating conditions are all significantly lower than that of ordinary photovoltaic panels. The average temperature of PV/T modules is only 15.2 °C, which is 20.2 °C lower than that of ordinary panels under summer conditions, and the average temperature of PV/T modules is only 0.5 °C, 17.8 °C lower than that of ordinary panels under winter conditions. The average photoelectric efficiency can be improved by 15.4% and 8.9%. And, the temperature change amplitude of PV/T modules is lower, which weakens the temperature fluctuation of the modules. The photovoltaic efficiency is therefore further increased. As a result, the power generation and photovoltaic efficiency are both improved significantly.