A Numerical Study of Dual-Inlet Air-Cooled PV/T Solar Collectors with Various Airflow Channel Configurations

The multi-inlet air-cooled photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) technology not only avoids the poor heat transfer conditions of single-inlet PV/T air collectors but also reduces photovoltaic (PV) peak temperature and improves solar energy utilization. Since use no more than three inlets, increase in thermal efficiency is significantly effective. Therefore, a numerical analysis an collector with two side inlets was performed. flow characteristics were then investigated for various channel configurations. Increasing area second inlet electrical efficiency. As length ratio front rear airflow channels reduced, average outlet first decreases increases. heat-exchanging quantity dual-inlet minimal. can be elevated by increasing angle between panel bottom plate. However, panels increased photoelectric conversion decreased. This design will achieve reduction carbon emissions proportion clean low- or zero-carbon green building.