Theoretical performance assessment of an integrated photovoltaic and earth air heat exchanger greenhouse using energy and exergy analysis methods

In this paper, a simplified mathematical model develops to study round the year effectiveness of photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) and earth air heat exchanger (EAHE) integrated with a greenhouse, located at IIT Delhi, India. The solar energy application through photovoltaic system and earth air heat exchanger (EAHE) for heating and cooling of a greenhouse is studied with the help of this simplified mathematical model. Calculations are done for four types of weather conditions (a, b, c and d types) in New Delhi, India. The paper compares greenhouse air temperatures when it is operated with photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) during daytime coupled with earth air heat exchanger (EAHE) at night, with air temperatures when it is operated exclusively with photovoltaic/thermal system (PV/T) and earth air heat exchanger (EAHE), for 24 h. The results reveal that air temperature inside the greenhouse can be increased by around 7–8 °C during winter season, when the system is operated with photovoltaic (PV/T), coupled with earth air heat exchanger (EAHE) at night. From the results, it is seen that the hourly useful thermal energy generated, during daytime and night, when the system is operated with photovoltaic (PV/T) coupled with earth air heat exchanger (EAHE), is 33 MJ and 24.5 MJ, respectively. The yearly thermal energy generated by the system has been calculated to be 24728.8 kWh, while the net electrical energy savings for the year is 805.9 kWh and the annual thermal exergy energy generated is 1006.2 kWh.