Modeling and parameter optimization of hybrid single channel photovoltaic thermal module using genetic algorithms

• Optimization using genetic algorithms.
• Overall efficiency is maximum at L = 0.2083 m.
• GAs are very efficient technique.
• Fitness function has been defined.

The PV research community and industry has major focus on the new advancement and improvement on power efficiency of PV systems. An attempt has been made to model and optimize the parameter of hybrid single channel photovoltaic thermal (PVT) module. In this paper it has been observed that there are many parameters that affect the electrical efficiency of a hybrid single channel PVT module like thickness of the glass and tedlar, temperature of the inlet flow, and solar cell temperature. All equations for solar cell and thermal collector have been derived. By using genetic algorithms (GAs), thermal efficiency and electrical efficiency of the system may be optimized. All the parameters that are used in genetic algorithms are the parameters that could be changed, and the non changeable parameters, like solar radiation cannot be used in the algorithm. It has been observed that the GAs are very efficient technique to estimate the design parameters of hybrid single channel PVT module.