Experimental investigations of hybrid PV/Spiral flow thermal collector system performance using Al₂O₃/water nanofluid

Abstract

Abstract. In this paper, the PV/T (Photovoltaic thermal unit) system is investigated experimentally to examine the thermal, electrical and overall efficiency by circulating Al 2 O 3 /water nanofluid of 1wt% and 2wt% with an optimum flow rate of 40L/H. The overall efficiency of PVT system is largely influenced by various factors such as heat due to photovoltaic action; energy radiated at the infrared wavelength of the solar spectrum, solar irradiance, mounting structure, tilt angle, wind speed direction, Ambient temperature and panel material composition. However, the major factor is considered in this study to extract the heat generated in the PV panel by using nanofluid as a coolant to increase the overall system efficiency. Therefore, the result shows that by using 2 wt% Al 2 O 3 /water nanofluid the electrical efficiency, thermal efficiency and overall efficiency of the PVT system enhanced by 13%, 45%, and 58% respectively compared with water. Keywords: PVT system, electrical efficiency, thermal efficiency, Al 2 O 3 /water nanofluid, IntroductionHybrid PVT System absorbs the direct solar radiation and converts into electrical and thermal energy. In this system solar cell, converts sunlight into electrical energy i.e electricity, and the thermal collector captures the remaining energy and removes heat generated by the PV panel. Matin Ghadidri et al., [1] investigated the performance of PVT system using ferrofluid as a heat transfer medium. They reported that the overall system efficiency is about 76% by using ferrofluid of 3wt% as a cooling medium. Michael et al., [2] analyzed that the copper sheet laminated PV/T system using 0.05 % copper oxide -water nanofluid .the result revealed that the thermal efficiency of 45.76%. Mohammad Sardarabadi et al., [3] investigated experimentally the effect of Silica/water on PV/T system. The result revealed that the thermal efficiency of 7.6% and 12.8% in case of 1wt% and 3wt% and the total exergy efficiency is about 24.31% at 3 wt% of Silica-water nanofluid respectively. YingYing Wu et al.,[4] studied the performance of photo electric hybrid system. The result showed that the unglazed PVT gives higher system performance by using nanofluid compared with water. Wei He et al., [5] studied the performance of a thermoelectric cooling and heating system in summer and winter operation modes. The result revealed that the COP of the system reaches 1.7 and the electrical and thermal efficiency increases into 16.7% and 23.5% respectively. Khelifa et al., [6] analyzed the hybrid PV/T system using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Adnan Ibrahim et al.,

A Review on Exergy Analysis of Nanofluid Flow Through Several Conduits

“…Nu decreases as the volume fraction of alumina/ water nanofluid rises, whereas when the Re rises, the Nu also rises. Gangadevi et al (2017) analysis the PV/T system was experimentally examined with water, 1wt% and 2 wt% of /water nanofluid. The hybrid PV/T system overall performance totally depends on the suspension sustainability of the coolant used.…”

Recent advancement in cooling technologies of solar photovoltaic (PV) system

“…During the experimentation, maximum yield was obtained from Al 2 O 3 -water nanofluid. Natasha E.Hjerrild et al [59] performed an investigation to study PVT enhancement using selectively absorbing nanofluid of core-shell silver silica (Ag-SiO 2 ) nanodiscs and Carbon Nanotubes (CN). This combination resulted in incremental overall efficiency by 30%.…”

Application of Nanofluids for Thermal Management of Photovoltaic Modules: A Review

“…Figures 3 and 4 depict the maximum efficiencies of PV/T systems obtained by different researchers. Gangadevi et al [35] experimentally examined that the electrical, thermal and overall efficiency of PV module being cooled by Al 2 O 3 /water nanofluid got increased by 13%, 45% and 58% respectively as compared to water based and 1 wt% Al 2 O 3 nanofluid based cooling. Mustafa et al [36] numerically tested the effect of mass flowrate and concentration of nanofluid (TiO 2 /water) on the efficiency of PV/T system.…”