Abstract

CABEZAS-MASLANCZUK, Marcelo Daniel; FRANCO-BRAZES, Juan Isidro  and  FASOLI-TOLOSA, Héctor José. Design and evaluation of a photovoltaic and thermal solar panel for dispersed populations in regions of large temperature range. Ing. invest. y tecnol. [online]. 2018, vol.19, n.2, pp.209-221. ISSN 2594-0732.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fi.25940732e.2018.19n2.018.

The evaluation of a solar panel designed to provide electricity and hot water in regions of high insolation and high thermal amplitude (continental climate, high altitudes) is presented. The proposed device is a panel that acts both as photovoltaic and thermal, which is constructed by placing a layer of water above a modified array of commercial photovoltaic solar cells. The water acts as a coolant of the cells reducing losses in the power generation produced by the increase in panel temperature. The fact that the absorption spectra of water and photovoltaic panels are complementary is an advantage for this design. Thus it is possible to provide electricity and hot water in a single device, for household use in regions far from the electric network, with dispersed populations (not concentrated); the system can be useful for fixed or mobile installations not only for family use but also for rural schools, border crossing points guards, etc. The theoretical foundations and the results obtained with a laboratory prototype installed in Buenos Aires are presented. The results were consistent with those predicted in the theoretical foundations: a significant improvement in the photovoltaic panel performance is also obtained in addition to the expected production of hot water. The combination of both effects leads to a better utilization of the solar resource.

Keywords : Renewable energy; solar energy; thermal and photovoltaic solar panel.

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