Experimental Study on Night Heat Transfer from Ambient Air in Row-installed Photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) Solar Collectors on a Flat Roof
Abstract
With climate change urging the transition to renewable energy sources, Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) solar collectors emerge as a promising decarbonized solution producing both electricity and heat. Our study evaluates the performance of PVT panels designed to be as the sole heat source of a brine to water Heat Pump (HP) system for buildings thermal needs. By focusing on the impact of the number of PVT panels in a single row on ambient air heat gain, experimental data reveal a significant influence of panel configuration on the heat exchange coefficient, with a noticeable decrease in heat loss as the number of panels increases, highlighting the critical role of PVT panel arrangement in system performance enhancement.