Title: Thermodynamic and life cycle assessment of flat-plate collector, photovoltaic system and photovoltaic thermal collector

Authors: Murat Ozturk; Nuri Ozek; Hece Batur; Murat Koc

Addresses: Department of Physics, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta-32260, Turkey ' Department of Physics, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta-32260, Turkey ' Department of Physics, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta-32260, Turkey ' Department of Physics, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta-32260, Turkey

Abstract: In this study, an energy, exergy and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis of a Flat-Plate (FP) collector, a Photovoltaic (PV) system and a Photovoltaic-Thermal (PV-T) collector is carried out for better evaluation. It is observed that instantaneous energy, daily energy and exergy efficiency of the FP collector, the PV system and the PV/T collector vary between 53-61%, 19-30%, 23-37% and 56-74%, 11-15%, 21-34% and 2-7%, 6-22% and 8-16%, respectively. The energy and CO₂ payback time of these solar collectors varies between 2, 12, 3.8 and 1.6, 3.6 and 1.8 years, respectively. Thermodynamic and LCA analysis show that a considerable amount of electrical and thermal energy is generated by the PV-T collector and the sustainability of the system is improved. Hence, the PV system has features better for the PV-T collector, especially when both electricity and heat are required for domestic applications.

Keywords: flat plate collectors; PV systems; photovoltaic systems; PV-T collector; energy efficiency; exergy efficiency; thermodynamics; life cycle assessment; LCA; photovoltaic thermal collectors; domestic energy; solar collectors; solar energy; solar power.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2012.049745

International Journal of Exergy, 2012 Vol.11 No.2, pp.229 - 251

Received: 12 Jul 2011
Accepted: 27 Jan 2012
Published online: 14 Oct 2012 *

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