Hybrid Solar Device Airflow Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal and photovoltaic hybrid solar devices are inadequate for heating air to high thermal power requirements, such as producing large quantities of domestic hot water, due to insufficient airflow and inefficient solar module orientation, leading to reduced overall efficiency and limited installation flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A thermal and photovoltaic hybrid solar device with a heat exchange chamber on the rear face of photovoltaic modules, an intermediate chamber, and a main chamber that can be connected to adjacent devices, along with flow regulators to maintain consistent airflow, allowing for efficient heat transfer and improved module efficiency by equalizing airflow across multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If air is circulated through heat exchange chambers to recover heat from photovoltaic modules, then thermal power for heating is improved, but airflow distribution becomes uneven when multiple devices are connected in series, causing downstream modules to overheat and efficiency to decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the common chamber into multiple independent heat exchange chambers, each with its own flow regulator. This segmentation allows independent control of airflow to each photovoltaic module, ensuring uniform cooling across all modules even when connected in series, thereby maintaining consistent efficiency while providing sufficient total thermal power.
Solution Approach 2:
Flow regulators are introduced to dynamically adjust and equalize the airflow parameter across different heat exchange chambers. By changing the airflow distribution parameter, the system compensates for the natural gradient that would otherwise cause downstream modules to receive excessive airflow and overheat, maintaining uniform operating conditions across all modules.
2Adaptability or versatility
If photovoltaic modules are installed on flat roofs or facades to improve installation flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but the architecture and weight of conventional systems limit optimal orientation and solar radiation use
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from ground-mounted or roof-integrated installations to vertical facade mounting. By utilizing the vertical dimension and building facades, the system achieves flexible installation on various building surfaces while maintaining optimal south-facing orientation for maximum solar radiation capture, thus improving both adaptability and energy utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid solar device is designed as a universal system that can be installed on flat roofs, sloped roofs, or building facades. The modular architecture with standardized heat exchange chambers and flow regulators allows the same device to adapt to different installation surfaces and orientations, maintaining high solar radiation utilization across diverse installation scenarios.
3Power
If conventional hybrid solar devices are used for high thermal power applications, then thermal power requirement is not met, but increasing photovoltaic module surface area to compensate requires larger installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous airflow through the heat exchange chambers, with the common chamber collecting heated air from all photovoltaic modules and directing it to a single outlet connected to the heat pump. This continuous action maximizes thermal energy recovery from the entire array, providing sufficient thermal power for high-demand applications without requiring excessive installation area.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple heat exchange chambers are merged into a common chamber that consolidates the thermal output from all photovoltaic modules. This merging approach combines the thermal power from all modules into a single streamlined flow path, achieving high total thermal power output while maintaining a compact installation footprint.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables the production of sufficient hot water for buildings with high demands, such as hotels or retirement homes, while ensuring consistent airflow and maintaining photovoltaic module efficiency, even when installed on facades or flat roofs, thus optimizing solar radiation use.
Implementation Method 1
at least one photovoltaic module (6) equipped with a solar panel (68) electrically connected to an electrical receiver
Implementation Method 2
an heat exchange chamber (46) extending along the rear face of the photovoltaic module... into which all the heat exchange chambers open
Implementation Method 3
The air circulating between the photovoltaic solar modules and the perforated sheets thus recovers heat
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This hybrid solar thermal and photovoltaic device (2) comprises at least one photovoltaic module (6) equipped with a solar panel (68) electrically connected to an electrical receiver. The photovoltaic module (6) comprises a front face (62) oriented towards the sun and a rear face oriented away from the sun, and the device (2) comprises: - at least one heat exchange chamber extending along the rear face of the photovoltaic module (6), - an intermediate chamber (44) into which all the heat exchange chambers open, - a main chamber (42) capable of being connected to a main chamber (42) of an adjacent device (2) and/or to a source of negative pressure, and - means for regulating the airflow disposed between the intermediate chamber (44) and the main chamber (42).