A comprehensive numerical investigation of a branch-inspired channel in roll-bond type PVT system using design of experiments approach

Abstract

In this research, a branch-inspired design of RB in a PVT system is vastly numerically investigated. The cooling channels of RB are based on hexagonal grids inspired by the branch structures. The design variables that have been taken into consideration are the three principal channel geometric parameters of the RB structure. Using the design of experiments, 15 different RB configurations are modeled, and consequently, the thermal and electrical performance analyses are implemented using ANSYS Fluent software; Notably, the numerical simulation is validated by performing an experimental investigation. Furthermore, the influence of these geometric parameters on the average PV surface temperature, the temperature difference between hot and cold regions of the PV surface as well as PVT efficiency are obtained. Interestingly, an ingenious method to determine the average PV surface temperature was introduced to obtain the PV electrical efficiency. In addition, the optimization of the PVT system was conducted with 40 scenarios, exploring the thermal and electrical efficiency, as well as the PV temperature uniformity index. According to the obtained results, the best scenario system can increase PV electrical efficiency by 20.4 %. The optimal system's electrical, thermal, and overall PVT efficiency are 17.75 %, 61.86 %, and 79.56 % respectively at 1000 W/m2 irradiation.