Experimental performance comparison of a Hybrid Photovoltaic/Solar Thermal (HyPV/T) Façade Module with a flat ICSSWH module

A modular Hybrid Photovoltaic/Solar Thermal (HyPV/T) Façade technology that utilizes Integrated Collector Storage Solar Water Heater (ICSSWH) technology, potentially providing cost effective solar PV and thermal energy collection for direct use in the building, has been developed and evaluated experimentally under the solar simulator facility at Ulster University. Daily solar thermal collection test results show that a ‘traditional’ flat ICSSWH units (unglazed, single and double glazed units) performs better than the unglazed HyPV/T by 5 to 10% but the two systems perform comparably in terms of overall efficiency when the additional electrical power produced by the HyPV/T is accounted for. It is concluded that a a glazed version of the HyPV/T could potentially improve upon the measured thermal efficiencies (albeit with a corresponding a drop in electrical conversion). The 65% overnight heat retention performance of the unglazed HyPV/T is very promising, being considerably better than the 8, 24 and 28% retention efficiencies achieved respectively by unglazed, single glazed and double glazed variants of a 'traditional' ICSSWH. The work presented in this paper illustrates that it is possible to design and develop a modern ICSSWH unit that can collect significant quantities of solar thermal energy and retain the energy over extended periods of non-collection.