Abstract
Many studies and considerable international efforts have gone into reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This study was carried out to improve the efficiency of flat-plate photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems, which use solar energy to produce heat and electricity simultaneously. An efficiency analysis was performed with various flow rates of water as the working fluid. The flow rate, which affects the performance of the PVT system, showed the highest efficiency at 3 L/min compared with 1, 2, and 4 L/min. Additionally, the effects of nanofluids (CuO/water, Al2O3/water) and water as working fluids on the efficiency of the PVT system were investigated. The results showed that the thermal and electrical efficiencies of the PVT system using CuO/water as a nanofluid were increased by 21.30% and 0.07% compared to the water-based system, respectively. However, the increase in electrical efficiency was not significant because this increase may be due to measurement errors. The PVT system using Al2O3/water as a nanofluid improved the thermal efficiency by 15.14%, but there was no difference in the electrical efficiency between water and Al2O3/water-based systems.
Highlights
Solar energy is a renewable and clean energy, and the demand for solar power has increased worldwide because of the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions [1]
In experiments investigating the optimal flow rate, water was used as the working fluid in the photovoltaic thermal (PVT) system
The results show that the electrical efficiency decreases as the surface temperature increases
Summary
Solar energy is a renewable and clean energy, and the demand for solar power has increased worldwide because of the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions [1]. An efficiency improvement of the solar system is needed via an increase of the heat transfer characteristics of the working fluid. The results showed that the convection heat transfer coefficient was improved, even at a low concentration of nanoparticles They reported that the presence of suspended nanoparticles contributed to an improvement of the thermal conductivity of the nanofluid. The electrical and thermal efficiencies of the PVT system were compared and analyzed with various flow rates of water as the working fluid. The thermal and electrical efficiencies of the PVT system were investigated using water and nanofluids (CuO/water, Al2 O3 /water) as working fluids at an optimum flow rate. The effects on the performance of the PVT system were investigated using water and nanofluids as working fluids
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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.
