Abstract
This paper discusses the effectiveness of simultaneous use of CuO nanofluid and air as a dual-fluid coolant for the thermal management of a photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) system. Outdoor experimental studies were performed to calculate the discrepancies between indoor and outdoor test findings. The thermal efficiency and the electrical characteristics of the dual-fluid PV/T system were investigated under steady-state test conditions following ISO standards. It was found that the divergence in electrical efficiency between indoor and outdoor-based PVT testing was significantly higher, while the difference in thermal efficiencies was marginal. It was observed that nanofluid/air, even at the lowest flow rates, outclassed the water/air coolant at higher flow rates in terms of PV/T energy output, which also ultimately helps in reducing the energy requirement for pumping. Unlike conventional solar air heaters, the proposed dual-fluid PV/T system produces a high air temperature when operated with only air at stagnant nanofluid. The maximum PV/T efficiency of approximately 85% was recorded when the nanofluid and air flows were kept at 0.02 kg/s and 0.04 kg/s, respectively. It is concluded that outdoor steady state testing provides comprehensive performance characterization of the nanofluid powered dual-fluid coolant for the PV/T system.
Highlights
Solar energy has proven to be an attractive renewable energy source in the context of meeting global sustainability goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
In order to maintain constant inlet temperature, a heating and cooling unit consisting of a chiller and heater was provided separately for nanofluid and air, respectively, so that outdoor performance testing of the dual-fluid PV/T system could be performed according to ISO standard operating conditions
The present study mainly focused on an experimental investigation dual- or nanofluid, determining the correct mixing ratio of colloidal of solution fluid application for PV/T
Summary
Solar energy has proven to be an attractive renewable energy source in the context of meeting global sustainability goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is the most mature technology compared to other renewable technologies when considering both heat and electricity. The only major concern is its dependency on temperature, as a 1 ◦ C increment in temperature causes a reduction in efficiency of 0.5% [1] This overheating problem can be overcome by integrating a heat exchanger with the PV module. This approach has led to the development of photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) technology. Due to simultaneous production of heat and electricity, the PV/T system offers significantly enhanced energy efficiency compared to conventional solar collectors
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
