Photovoltaic thermal hybrid solar collector

About: Photovoltaic thermal hybrid solar collector is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 8688 publications have been published within this topic receiving 232734 citations.

How much exergy one can obtain from incident solar radiation

Abstract: A thermodynamic model is proposed to study the exergetic content of incident solar radiation reaching on the Earth’s surface which can be used to produce work through a dually cascaded thermodynamic cycle. The “topping” cycle is an ad hoc engine created by nature that connects the outer shell of the terrestrial atmosphere (which is in equilibrium with the extraterrestrial solar radiation) to the collector of a solar heat engine operating on the Earth’s surface. The work produced by the topping cycle is dissipated in form of scattering, absorption, heat, movement of air masses (wind), etc. The “bottoming” cycle is a heat engine operating between the collector and surrounding temperatures, and delivers useful work. It is shown that the maximum work extractable from this system as exergy is obtained when both cycles operate reversibly. An expression for this maximum work, which represents the exergy of incident solar radiation on the Earth’s surface, is proposed. The application of the present model is illustrated and validated by calculating the exergy of solar radiation based on some measurements. The results obtained by the present model are compared to the ones obtained through other models available in the open literature.

Solar thermal energy systems in Australia

Abstract: Australia has developed world leading solar thermal technologies, with only very low national market penetration. Domestic solar water heating is the most common solar thermal instrument, with around 5% of homes using it and most of these systems are conventional flat plate thermosyphon systems. Other low temperature solar thermal research includes solar crop drying, solar ponds and solar air heating but all on a small scale. There is a worldwide resurgence in interest in high temperature solar thermal through solar concentrating systems. Australia has a number of these systems many of which are near commercial fulfilment; notably, Solar Heat and Power Pty Ltd's Compact Linear Fresnel Array system currently being implemented at Liddell Power station and the ANU 400m2 Big Dish now being commercialized by Wizard Power Pty Ltd. CSIRO has recently opened a solar energy centre in Newcastle that features a solar central receiver tower system and a trough concentrator array.