Analysis of a hybrid PV/T concept based on wavelength selective mirror films

The technical performance of a nontracking hybrid PV/T concept that uses a wavelength selective film is modeled. The wavelength selective film is coupled with a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) to reflect and concentrate the infrared portion of the solar spectrum onto a tubular absorber while transmitting the visible portion of the spectrum to an underlying thin-film photovoltaic module. The optical performance of the CPC/selective film is obtained through Monte Carlo ray tracing (MCRT). The CPC geometry is optimized for maximum total energy generation for a roof-top application. Applied to a roof-top in Phoenix, AZ, the hybrid PV/T provides 20% more energy compared with a system of the same area with independent side-by-side solar thermal and PV modules, but the increase is achieved at the expense of a decrease in the electrical efficiency from 8.8% to 5.8%.