Scalable spectrally selective solar cell for highly efficient photovoltaic thermal conversion
Photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) hybrid technology offers significant potential for carbon neutrality by simultaneously converting photons into electricity and heat simultaneously. However, the mismatch between PV/T output temperature and the temperature demand across a wide range of scenarios limits its...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Advances in Applied Energy |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666792424000374 |
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| author | Ken Chen Kongfu Hu Hu Li Siyan Chan Junjie Chen Yu Pei Bin Zhao Gang Pei |
| author_facet | Ken Chen Kongfu Hu Hu Li Siyan Chan Junjie Chen Yu Pei Bin Zhao Gang Pei |
| author_sort | Ken Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) hybrid technology offers significant potential for carbon neutrality by simultaneously converting photons into electricity and heat simultaneously. However, the mismatch between PV/T output temperature and the temperature demand across a wide range of scenarios limits its practical uses. Traditional PV cells have high infrared emissivity, resulting in significant heat losses and seriously significantly hindering the development of PV/T systems. Spectrally selective solar cells characterized by high solar absorption, low thermal emission, and photoelectric conversion process, have yet to be realized thus far. In this study, we propose an integrated design and develop a scalable industrial approach for fabricating meter-scale spectrally selective solar cell with a high solar absorptivity of 92.3 % and a low infrared emissivity of 20.3 %, achieving the highest absorption-emission ratio of measured 4.6 experimentally. The primary novelty of the design lies in integrating the PV cell electrode atop and low-emissivity layer into one eliminating the need for rare metals and reducing complexity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the spectrally selective PV/T significantly increases the overall solar efficiency from 13.7 % to 82.5 % and reduces the heat loss coefficient to 3.55 W/(m2.K). The validated model accurately captures the high photovoltaic thermal efficiency, enabling new technological advancements. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ba3f67a243b64cb9a9ac7c462f707903 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-7924 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advances in Applied Energy |
| spelling | doaj-art-ba3f67a243b64cb9a9ac7c462f7079032024-12-12T05:23:41ZengElsevierAdvances in Applied Energy2666-79242024-12-0116100199Scalable spectrally selective solar cell for highly efficient photovoltaic thermal conversionKen Chen0Kongfu Hu1Hu Li2Siyan Chan3Junjie Chen4Yu Pei5Bin Zhao6Gang Pei7Department of Thermal Science and Energy Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, PR China; Key Laboratory of Solar Thermal Conversion of Anhui Province, PR ChinaDepartment of Thermal Science and Energy Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, PR China; Key Laboratory of Solar Thermal Conversion of Anhui Province, PR ChinaTriumph Photovoltaic Materials Co.Ltd, PR ChinaDepartment of Thermal Science and Energy Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, PR China; Key Laboratory of Solar Thermal Conversion of Anhui Province, PR ChinaDepartment of Thermal Science and Energy Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, PR China; Key Laboratory of Solar Thermal Conversion of Anhui Province, PR ChinaDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, USA; Corresponding authors at: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, USADepartment of Thermal Science and Energy Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, PR China; Key Laboratory of Solar Thermal Conversion of Anhui Province, PR China; Corresponding authors at: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, USADepartment of Thermal Science and Energy Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, PR China; Key Laboratory of Solar Thermal Conversion of Anhui Province, PR China; Corresponding authors at: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, USAPhotovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) hybrid technology offers significant potential for carbon neutrality by simultaneously converting photons into electricity and heat simultaneously. However, the mismatch between PV/T output temperature and the temperature demand across a wide range of scenarios limits its practical uses. Traditional PV cells have high infrared emissivity, resulting in significant heat losses and seriously significantly hindering the development of PV/T systems. Spectrally selective solar cells characterized by high solar absorption, low thermal emission, and photoelectric conversion process, have yet to be realized thus far. In this study, we propose an integrated design and develop a scalable industrial approach for fabricating meter-scale spectrally selective solar cell with a high solar absorptivity of 92.3 % and a low infrared emissivity of 20.3 %, achieving the highest absorption-emission ratio of measured 4.6 experimentally. The primary novelty of the design lies in integrating the PV cell electrode atop and low-emissivity layer into one eliminating the need for rare metals and reducing complexity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the spectrally selective PV/T significantly increases the overall solar efficiency from 13.7 % to 82.5 % and reduces the heat loss coefficient to 3.55 W/(m2.K). The validated model accurately captures the high photovoltaic thermal efficiency, enabling new technological advancements.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666792424000374Photovoltaic thermal conversionSpectrally selective solar cellRadiant heat lossAdvanced thermal management |
| spellingShingle | Ken Chen Kongfu Hu Hu Li Siyan Chan Junjie Chen Yu Pei Bin Zhao Gang Pei Scalable spectrally selective solar cell for highly efficient photovoltaic thermal conversion Advances in Applied Energy Photovoltaic thermal conversion Spectrally selective solar cell Radiant heat loss Advanced thermal management |
| title | Scalable spectrally selective solar cell for highly efficient photovoltaic thermal conversion |
| title_full | Scalable spectrally selective solar cell for highly efficient photovoltaic thermal conversion |
| title_fullStr | Scalable spectrally selective solar cell for highly efficient photovoltaic thermal conversion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Scalable spectrally selective solar cell for highly efficient photovoltaic thermal conversion |
| title_short | Scalable spectrally selective solar cell for highly efficient photovoltaic thermal conversion |
| title_sort | scalable spectrally selective solar cell for highly efficient photovoltaic thermal conversion |
| topic | Photovoltaic thermal conversion Spectrally selective solar cell Radiant heat loss Advanced thermal management |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666792424000374 |
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