Analysis of Solar Energy Utilization Effect of Air-Based Photovoltaic/Thermal System

Recently, the use of new and renewable energy sources to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and minimize global warming has attracted attention. Among the different renewable energy sources, solar energy is utilized for energy reduction in buildings because of its ease of use and excellent maintenance and repair. In this study, an air-based photovoltaic/thermal (PVT) system that improves solar energy utilization was developed, and its performance was experimentally compared with that of the existing photovoltaic (PV) system. The PVT system could increase the amount of generated power by decreasing the panel temperature raised by the air passing through the lower part of the panel. Moreover, it was possible to use the high-temperature air collected from the panel for heating or hot-water supply in the building. Based on the experimental results obtained for the PV and PVT panels subjected to the same weather conditions, the power generation efficiency of the PVT panel through which air was passed increased by approximately 10.1% compared to that of the PV panel. In addition, a heat collection efficiency of approximately 46.6% was generated by the temperature increase of the air passing through the PVT panel.

Electrospun Ceramic Nanofibers for Photocatalysis

Ceramic fiber photocatalysts fabricated by electrospinning hold great potential in alleviating global environmental and energy issues. However, many challenges remain in improving their photocatalytic efficiencies, such as the limited carrier lifetime and solar energy utilization. To overcome these predicaments, various smart strategies have been invented and realized in ceramic fiber photocatalysts. This review firstly attempts to summarize the fundamental principles and bottlenecks of photocatalytic processes. Subsequently, the approaches of doping, surface plasmon resonance, and up-conversion fluorescent to enlarge the light absorption range realized by precursor composition design, electrospinning parameter control, and proper post heat-treatment process are systematically introduced. Furthermore, methods and achievements of prolonging the lifetime of photogenerated carriers in electrospun ceramic fiber photocatalysts by means of introducing heterostructure and defective composition are reviewed in this article. This review ends with a summary and some perspectives on the future directions of ceramic fiber photocatalysts.

A Study on the Characteristics of the Concentrated Solar Photovoltaic/thermal Integrated System

This paper mainly introduces a comprehensive solar energy utilization system with low-CPC and polycrystalline silicon solar photovoltaic components. Outdoor experiments have been made to test the electrical efficiency, heat efficiency and their changes of the system with fixed temperature of outlet water and different sunshine conditions. Besides, this paper also compares the effects of outlet water at various temperatures on the efficiency of the whole system as well as the temperatures and flow rate responses with different PID parameters. Through analysis of these experimental data, the most desirable temperature of outlet water and PID parameters have been obtained in CPC-PV/T Hybrid Thermal-electric System, thus providing references for relevant experimental research.