Experimental Study on Heating Buildings with Cool-Storage Mode Solar Photovoltaic Module

Taking the improvement of solar cell module efficiency as primary objective, a Cool-Storage Mode Solar Photovoltaic Module(CSMPVM) is researched and developed. Outdoor experiments were carried out over one year from 2007. The experimental results show that the efficiency of CSMPVM has increased by more than 10% comparing with conventional module by using temperature control. Furthermore, the solar energy that can't convert into electric energy can be changed into thermal energy and used to heat the cooling water. The cooling water temperature can be up to about 40 degrees C which is supplied to the building as domestic hot water. Total efficiency of solar energy utilization, photovoltaic efficiency, heating efficiency based on experimental data are analyzed, and the feasibility of an efficient solar energy utilization system with CSMPVM which supplies electricity and heat at the same time is discussed.