Performance of Heat Pump Systems with PVT Collectors with optimized Finned Heat Exchangers integrated as single Heat Source

Novel photovoltaic-thermal PVT collectors with an optimized finned heat exchanger were designed, built and tested. The test results indicate an excellent convective heat transfer coefficient for the air-to-water heat exchange. The system performance is evaluated by simulation of a heat pump system, where PVT collectors are integrated as the only heat source to the evaporator. Due to the operating temperatures below ambient, the PVT collector harvests both ambient and solar heat and therefore can be considered as a solar air-to-water heat exchanger. The PVT heat pump system achieves a good overall system performance, depending on the PVT area and type of heat exchanger construction. The novel double-finned multichannel heat exchanger achieves a seasonal performance factor of SPF of 3.6 with a relatively small PVT collector area of 3 m²/kWth and thus consumes 9 % less electricity than a PV-coupled air source heat pump system.