Theoretical and experimental analysis of a novel flat photovoltaic-thermal solar water heater with integrated energy storage via a planar liquid-vapour thermal diode

• Main Author: Pugsley, Adrian Nicholas
• Published: Ulster University 2017
• Subjects: 621.31
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.713462

Photovoltaic thermal (PVT) solar collectors generate heat and electricity. Building Integrated (BI) facade collectors are suited to high rise buildings. Ulster University researches novel Integrated Collector-Storage Solar Water Heaters (ICSSWH). This study investigates Planar Liquid-Vapour Thermal Diode (PLVTD) heat transfer and characterises performance of a BIPVT-PLVTD-ICSSWH prototype. A thermal resistance network representing evaporation, vapour transfer, condensation, fluid conduction and convection, plate-to plate radiation, and solid conduction is established and evaluated using Stefan-Boltzmann and Fourier laws together with Rayleigh/Reynolds-Nusselt and Rohsenow correlations.