Thermal and electrical performance of a concentrating PV/Thermal collector: results from the ANU CHAPS collector

The Combined Heat and Power Solar System, or CHAPS system being developed at the Australian National University, is a concentrating parabolic trough system that combines photovoltaic (PV) cells to produce electricity with thermal energy absorption to produce hot water. The first CHAPS prototype is a 25x concentration domestic style system, suitable for hot water and electricity generation for a home. Recently a second CHAPS system prototype has been developed, a 35x concentration single-axis tracking system, designed for installation on the roofs of commercial and light industrial buildings, to contribute to building heating, cooling and power requirements. The development of the CHAPS systems was preceded by PV trough technology development at the ANU since the mid-1990s, culminating in the commissioning of a 20kW PV trough array at Rockingham, Western Australia, in 2000.