Thermal Analysis of a Hybrid Solar Collector

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a theoretical thermal analysis performed for a photovoltaic (PV) module cooled by circulating water on the back side of a serpentine tube. The simulation was developed using the software Malhematica 3.0, able to interact by symbolic and numerical calculation. The hybrid collector increases solar energy utilization, once a great part of it is usually converted into thermal energy and not used in the usual PV system. The total area necessary to convert solar energy into electricity and heat water is also smaller than using the two different collectors separately (PV + thermal collector). Although, thermal efficiency is higher than electric one, the second kind is of great interest for man. Electricity is easily transported, sold, and converted into work, light, or even heat. The goal of hybrid option is probably the electric efficiency increasing, expected due to the reductions of cell temperature values and unhomogeneous distribution.