A new photovoltaic-thermal hybrid module: Thermal-electric model and experimental tests

A new Photovoltaic-Thermal (PV-T) module, based on crystalline silicon (c-Si) technology with plastic-laminated sandwich without glass, is studied from a theoretical point of view and tested in outdoor operating conditions in the presence of water cooling. A thermal model has been developed starting from solar irradiance, separated into its different components, from the frontsheet to the backsheet. The electrical conversion efficiency of solar cells is required to correctly assess the electricity production and the thermal balance. Thus, an iterative calculation procedure solves the thermal-electric problem and finds the cell temperature. Finally, experimental tests in outdoor conditions have been performed to validate theoretical current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the PV-T module and its rated data.