High-Performance hybrid solar system with V-shaped Receiver: Dual concentration and microchannel cooling approach

Meeting the growing demand for renewable energy is crucial to ensure a reliable power supply and mitigate climate change, especially given the persistent reliance on fossil fuels. Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, a scalable and clean energy solution, is projected to provide between 30 % to 50 % of global electricity by 2050 due to its sustainability and availability. This research work addresses the critical gap in hybrid solar technologies by introducing a new approach of integrating polycrystalline photovoltaic (Poly-PV) modules and triple-junction (3J) cells within a single framework. The Poly-PV modules, arranged in a V-shaped layout, are illuminated by a parabolic trough collector, yielding a low concentration ratio of solar irradiance, according to its limitations, of approximately 9.13X. At the same time, the 3J cells receive a highly concentrated solar flux of 400X via a Fresnel lens optical arrangement. For safer operation and better performance under concentrated irradiance, advanced thermal management is implemented through microchannel cooling devices for each cell type. A conjugate heat transfer model, solved via ANSYS Fluent, evaluates the system’s thermal and hydraulic behavior under this proposed combined optical arrangement of parabolic trough concentrator (PTC) and Fresnel lens. Complementing the energy analysis, an exergy assessment quantifies efficiency losses via exergy destruction and entropy generation, offering comprehensive insight into the system’s thermodynamic performance. The proposed hybrid system achieved electrical efficiency of up to 16.3 % for Poly-PV and 43.8 % for 3J cells, with exergy efficiencies peaking at 10,4% under a flow rate of 4 L/hr. The numerical model was validated through comparison with previously published experimental results, confirming its reliability and demonstrating that the proposed configuration significantly enhances both efficiency and thermal management compared with conventional CPV/T systems.