Design and Experimental Study for Using PV/T Collectors in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering University of Aleppo

In recent years building integration of solar thermal with PV modules has become more and more popular in different countries, where national support programs have accelerated the dissemination of grid connected PV systems. The installation of a (BIPV) systems have certain advantages compared to a traditional PV or thermal system mounted in a separate structure on the roofs. The main purpose of this project to evaluate the feasibility of using combined PV/T collectors in typical Syrian building installations, and to test this system as a optional solution for a public, governmental or service sector buildings, there are two main advantages for such systems, large area of the roofs are suitable for mounting such systems, and specially for periodic uses or where short term thermal and electrical energy outputs are needed. PV/T collectors being considered in this paper are collectors which can provide both electrical and thermal energy. An experimental model of PV/T air collector was designed and constructed on the roof of Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in University of Aleppo, then it was inspected. This model consisted of a conventional air solar thermal collector with PV cells. One of the main conclusions of this study is that the thermal linking between PV cells and absorber plate is very important for the thermal efficiency. The electrical efficiency is depend on the flow rate of the air which passes through the collector, because the PV cells are on the inlet, then the cool air will pick the heat generated from the PV cells, so it will become relatively warm after passing under the PV cells, and thus PV cells will have a higher electrical output. This results of the measurement show that the project will provide yearly saving for the building about: thermal energy 6133 S.P/year (2496 kW/year) and electrical energy saving 1579 S.P/year (520 kW/year).