Design and Performance Analysis of Reflectors Attached to Commercial PV Module

Abstract

The hybrid (PV/T) solar water systems are commercially unviable because of its low concentration ratio, less combined PV/T efficiency, non-standardization of PV heat exchanger and long payback period. The simplest and cheap technique to increase PV/T efficiency is to boost solar radiation on surface of PV module. This can be done by attaching flat reflectors or concentrators to sides of commercial PV module. This paper provides design and performance analysis of commercial silicon based PV module with reflectors for Mumbai latitude (φ=19.120). The flat reflectors made from anodized Aluminum sheet and attached to shorter sides of PV module at North-South direction. For different tilts of module and reflector orientations over a day, photovoltaic power, efficiency and highest working temperature of modified module are discussed and analyzed. The modified PV module at 250 tilt and 240 reflector orientation with vertical surface of module could able to generate PV power and efficiency of 161 W and 13.8% respectively. This results shows that modified module was produced 15% PV power more than one-sun concentration PV module. The modified module was attended maximum operating temperature of 66 0C.  

Keywords

• Low concentration ratio; silicon based PV module; flat reflectors; anodized Aluminum sheet; PV output power; one-sun concentration.

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