Performance assessment of an integrated PV/T and triple effect cooling system for hydrogen and cooling production

In this paper we study an integrated PV/T absorption system for cooling and hydrogen production based on U.A.E weather data. Effect of average solar radiation for different months, operating time of the electrolyzer, air inlet temperature and area of the PV module on power and rate of heat production, energy and exergy efficiencies, hydrogen production and energetic and exergetic COPs are studied. It is found that the overall energy and exergy efficiency varies greatly from month to month because of the variation of solar radiation and the time for which it is available. The highest energy and exergy efficiencies are obtained for the month of March and their value is 15.6% and 7.9%, respectively. However, the hydrogen production is maximum for the month of August and its value is 9.7 kg because in august, the solar radiation is high and is available for almost 13 h daily. The maximum energetic and exergetic COPs are calculated to be 2.28 and 2.145, respectively and they are obtained in the month of June when solar radiation is high for the specified cooling load of 15 kW.