Modeling, Simulation and Performance Evaluation of a PVT System for the Kenyan Manufacturing Sector
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Date
2023
Authors
Ngunzi, Veronica
Njoka, Francis
Kinyua, Robert
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cell Press
Abstract
Manufacturing is an end-use sector that uses the most delivered energy, accounting for around
50% of all transported fuel globally and 40% of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. Solar
photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) energy can substitute the transported energy to meet thermal and
electrical energy requirements, mitigating high energy costs and climatic problems. This research
aimed to develop, simulate, and evaluate the capabilities of a solar photovoltaic-thermal system
for potential use in Kenya’s manufacturing sector. A multistage cluster sampling technique was
used in the study to characterize the manufacturing industry. Additionally, a PVT system was
simulated using MATLAB Simulink to ascertain the relationship of temperature and the PV
electrical efficiency. The impact of incorporating a thermal collector into the PV system on
electrical, thermal, and overall system efficiency, and also the system’s potential for use in
thermal processes in manufacturing, were assessed. From the characterization results, the agroprocessing sector dominates with 35% representation, and the small-scale thermal energy category dominates at 80%. The simulation findings show that a small temperature increase leads to a
small increment in short circuit current but a significant decline in open circuit voltage. As a
consequence, the maximum power (Pmax) of the PV decreases, lowering its electrical efficiency.
However, the integration of PV with thermal collector improved the electrical, thermal, and the
entire system efficiencies by, 16.01%, 20%, and 36.13%, respectively. More than 75% of the
electrical and thermal energy processes fall in the small energy category. Hence, the PVT system
is suitable for small-scale low-to-medium heat thermal energy categories or as a substitute system
for higher temperature processes to raise feed water temperatures and reduction of thermal energy cost. This study gives a new approach of the application of PVT system for thermal industrial
applications.
Description
Article
Keywords
PVT module, MATLAB-Simulink simulation, Thermal energy recovery, Low-to-medium industrial heat
Citation
Ngunzi, V., Njoka, F., & Kinyua, R. (2023). Modeling, simulation and performance evaluation of a PVT system for the Kenyan manufacturing sector. Heliyon.