An experimental analysis of a hybrid photovoltaic thermal system through parallel water pipe integration

The global research community has increasingly focused on sustainable energy solutions to combat the environmental challenges posed by extensive fossil fuel consumption. This paper presents a new simple approach to enhance the electric efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) panels through efficient cooling techniques using simple parallel water pipes on the back of the PV panel. Additionally, the waste heat generated during this process is harnessed as a valuable heat source for residential hot water systems. Experimental measurements were conducted on both the reference PV panels without cooling and the PV/T system equipped with cooling pipes. A comprehensive energy analysis was performed to compare their performance. The results demonstrate that the cooled PV/T system exhibits consistently higher electric efficiency due to effective cooling by about 10%, resulting in surface temperature reduction and enhanced performance. The system also demonstrates a significant improvement in waste heat recovery, making it a practical and promising choice for sustainable energy applications. © 2023 The Authors