Improving Thermal Distribution in Water-Cooled PV Modules and Its Effect on RO Permeate Recovery
| Autor: | Maria Magdalena Armendáriz-Ontiveros, Gustavo A. Fimbres Weihs, Mario F. Suzuki Valenzuela, Ian M. Sosa-Tinoco, Fernando Sánchez Soto |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
PVT
lcsh:Hydraulic engineering Water flow 020209 energy Geography Planning and Development solar energy 02 engineering and technology Aquatic Science PV modules Biochemistry reverse osmosis lcsh:Water supply for domestic and industrial purposes 020401 chemical engineering lcsh:TC1-978 0202 electrical engineering electronic engineering information engineering 0204 chemical engineering Reverse osmosis Process engineering Water Science and Technology lcsh:TD201-500 Water transport business.industry Photovoltaic system Solar energy solar desalination Electricity generation Environmental science Water treatment Solar desalination business |
| Zdroj: | Water Volume 13 Issue 2 Water, Vol 13, Iss 229, p 229 (2021) |
| ISSN: | 2073-4441 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/w13020229 |
| Popis: | Among the most notable emerging hybrid technologies for water treatment are those that combine reverse osmosis (RO) membrane systems with alternative energy sources such as solar photovoltaic (PV). Solar PV modules can enable systems disconnected from the electricity grid, and in some locations can also be used for water heating as photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) units, a process in which water removes heat from the PV module, increasing its electrical generation efficiency. When combined with RO, the higher temperature feed water can increase RO permeate flux, improving recovery but decreasing the rejection of dissolved salts. Although the decrease in efficiency of PV modules at higher temperatures is a well-known issue, this is usually under conditions of uniform temperature. However, the temperature distribution in water-cooled PV modules is usually not uniform and, given the anisotropy of the distribution and electrical connection of the PV cells in the module, this factor has not been the focus of much study. In this context, a PVT unit that focuses on increasing the output water temperature with a high global heat transfer coefficient will not necessarily be the most electrically efficient system. This study experimentally assesses several proposed heat-exchange configurations for PVT systems where the PV modules are cooled by forced convective water flow. A simulation model of PVT performance is then validated and used to predict the productivity of the PVT-RO coupling, both in terms of electrical generation and permeate flux of the hybrid system under different conditions. The results suggest that water-cooled PV modules have several potential applications for off-grid and remote water treatment, as well as water transportation systems. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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