30. An Innovative Dynamic Model for the Performance Analysis of a Concentrating Photovoltaic/Thermal (CPV/T) Solar Collector

A zero-dimensional dynamic model has been developed in order to simulate both electrical and thermal performance of a real concentrating photovoltaic/thermal (CPV/T) solar collector, namely the Absolicon X10 PVT prototype. This model calculates the instantaneous average temperatures of the main components of the system by handling a system of nonlinear differential equations, obtained via the application of the first law of thermodynamics, which is introduced in a MATLAB routine. Input parameters of the model include all the values characterising both the weather conditions and the main physical, geometrical and dimensional properties of the collector. Model validation was performed, firstly, via a steady-state simulation according to the EN 12975 standard in order to compare the thermal efficiency provided by the model with the solar collector efficiency curve. The difference among these values was constantly limited around 1 %. As a second step, the model was verified in a daily transient simulation by using the experimental data collected during the tests carried out at the ENEA Portici Research Centre, where an Absolicon X10 PVT collector is currently in operation. The measured and simulated thermal and electric yields were compared, thus achieving the confirmation that model can provide estimations consistent with the expected results.