Sistema híbrido fotovoltaico/térmico para geração de energia elétrica e aquecimento de água utilizando termossifões

Abstract

The search for new renewable sources and technologies that allow the substitution of non-renewable fuels and of high potential for environmental degradation, especially in the last two decades, has been very high. One of the most prominent renewable sources is solar energy, which has a high potential in Brazil and can be harnessed through solar collectors and photovoltaic panels. Despite the high potential, this form of energy has a low participation in the Brazilian energy matrix, mainly due to the high costs of implementation and low efficiency of photovoltaic devices that, for each 1°C increase in relation to its ideal operating temperature, lose about 0.4% of efficiency. This experimental study aims to develop a hybrid photovoltaic/thermal system using a photovoltaic panel and thermosyphons. For this, the thermosyphons were inserted in an absorber medium (aluminum flat bars) in direct contact with the photovoltaic panel, taking energy from it in the form of heat and transferring such energy to the water coming from a circulation system. The hybrid system was tested in comparison with a commercial photovoltaic panel, and the results showed that the absorbing medium and the thermosyphons were not able to perform the cooling of the photovoltaic panel, the PV/T system had an average temperature of 56.3°C, while the PV had an average temperature of 49.0°C, resulting in electrical efficiencies of 14.09% and 14.65%. Considering the thermal part, the system provided an average total efficiency of 45.75%, while the PV provided an average total efficiency of 12.69%, achieving the goal of elevating the efficiency of the PV panel, while also being able to generate both kinds of energy, electrical and thermal.