A numerical and experimental study on a novel micro heat pipe PV/T system

The photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) module, as an efficient solar energy conversion device, has gained significant interest worldwide. Particularly, the novel PV/T with micro heat pipe (MHP-PV/T) exhibits favorable performances in cold regions, especially when the ambient temperature drops below 0 °C. This study focuses on the application of MHP-PV/T in Lanzhou, a city located in northwest China. During the typical winter season, the net average electrical efficiency and thermal efficiency can reach 12.8% and 26.4%, respectively. A two-dimensional mathematical model of MHP-PV/T was developed and validated with experimental results. The simulation results aligned well with the experiment data. Furthermore, it was observed that increasing the width and number of MHPs can lead to further improvements in the electrical efficiency and the thermal efficiency. Lastly, regression equations were established, and dimensionless processing was performed to correlate solar radiation intensity with electrical efficiency, thermal efficiency and total efficiency in Lanzhou.