A comparative study on the energetic- exergetic and economical performance of a photovoltaic thermal system (PVT)

In this experimental study, it is aimed to present a comparative study on the energetic-exergetic and economical performance of the PVT system. A new and easy-handle approach has been also developed to assess the exergetic performance of a PVT system. Economical evaluation of both PV and PVT systems has been also performed by NPV method. Useful energy rate, surface temperature, electrical energy and overall energy efficiency, exergy efficiency, exergy destruction values of PV and PVT systems have been compared. It was found that the electrical efficiency, overall energy efficiency and exergy efficiency of PVT system vary between 0.10 and 0.13; 0.26 and 0.54 and 0.10 and 0.12 respectively. It is found that the exergy and energy efficiency values of the PVT system are greater than the exergy and energy efficiency values of the PV system. It is calculated that the PVT system has considerably short payback time after 8 years of operation; while the payback period of PV was found as 16 years under the same meteorological conditions.