Synthesis, fabrication and testing of functionally graded hybrid PV panel for better energy harvest

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ABSTRACT

Renewable energy sources have become more attractive as the cost per watt-hour is reducing year by year. Hybrid systems such as Photovoltaic/Thermal systems capture the incident solar energy and convert it into electrical and thermal energies and are hence more efficient. In this work, Hybrid Photovoltaic panel with Functionally Graded back up below the photovoltaic cell has been provided. The Functionally Graded concept has been applied meticulously first by identifying the convenient power-law exponent and associated thermal conductivity of each layer. Accordingly, Functionally Graded backed Photovoltaic panel prototype was fabricated with metal chips and polymer, one being a good conductor of heat while the other being an insulating medium. Water circulating tubing at appropriate depth was laid. The thermal and electrical outputs of the prototype were measured. The performance of the tailored Photovoltaic/Thermal system with Functionally Graded backing has been compared with normal Photovoltaic/Thermal system by considering standard insolation data. This new Functionally Graded Hybrid Photovoltaic panel and the synthesis procedure followed proves to be useful in implementing further improvement schemes.

KEYWORDS:

• Photovoltaic/Thermal hybrid systems
• synthesis of Functionally graded material
• solar insolation
• energy harvest

Disclosure statement

No, potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.