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The basis is a classic solar panel of which the solar cells at the front partially convert sunlight into electricity. A thin-walled plastic heat exchanger is mounted at the back. This will transfer the remaining part of sunlight that is converted into heat to the heat pump. As good as the entire amount of solar energy that falls on the panels is thus converted into useful energy: they simultaneously produce the necessary electricity and the necessary source heat for the heat pump. The heat pump in turn provides heating and hot water. There are 2 installation variants. In a simple installation, the field of PVT heat pump panels is connected directly to the source connection of the heat pump. Such installation can produce heat and generate hot water. By adding a rainwater cistern with a heat exchanger or heat column, a buffer of low-temperature heat becomes available allowing the heat pump to operate with higher supply temperatures during the night and winter periods and to cool during the summer as well.
In a simple installation, the PVT heat pump panels provide heat and electricity for the heat pump during the day. During the night, the panels extract sufficient heat from the ambient air. The optional indoor buffer will allow the heat pump to run more during the day with solar power and higher source temperatures. This increases the efficiency of the system. When the PVT heat pump panels do not produce enough heat, the electrical resistance of the heat pump partly takes over. Still, this involves a very limited number of hours per year.
Installation with rainwater cistern: better efficiency and cooling becomes possible!
The soil also supplies heat to the rainwater cistern. In the winter period, with a water temperature in the cistern from 0°C, the water on the heat exchanger will possibly start to freeze, releasing a large amount of solidification or latent heat.
