Enhancing photovoltaic panel efficiency using a combination of Zinc Oxide and Titanium Oxide water-based nanofluids

Abstract

The efficiency of a photovoltaic (PV) panel decreases as its temperature increases, which is caused by an increase in solar irradiation. To maintain high electricity efficiency, it is necessary to keep the PV's operating temperature low. Therefore, a cooling system is needed to decrease the temperature of PV panels, especially when solar irradiation is high. Hybrid nanoparticles have attracted considerable interest in the field of PV cooling because of their distinctive characteristics and potential uses. They have the ability to significantly improve the performance and efficiency of solar panels. By offering advantages such as effective heat dissipation, improved heat transfer, favorable optical properties, increased stability, and cost-effectiveness, hybrid nanoparticles play a critical role in enhancing PV cooling. Leveraging these unique attributes, hybrid nanoparticles hold the potential to elevate the efficiency, reliability, and overall performance of photovoltaic systems. This study involved a three-stage process. The initial two stages focused on identifying the optimal concentration of Zinc oxide water-based nanofluid and Titanium oxide water-based nanofluid. The third stage sought to determine the ideal combination of these two nanofluids. Throughout each stage, five identical PV modules were utilized and placed adjacent to one another. During the experiment, one PV module was used as a base, while the other four were coated on their backside with a specific concentration of the corresponding nanofluid type. During the study, K-type thermocouples were employed to measure the hourly averaged backside temperature of each module. These thermocouples were attached to the backside of the modules to obtain accurate readings. Additionally, a GL 220 midi logger was utilized to record the voltage, current, and power of each PV throughout the duration of the experiment. Based on the findings of the study, it was found that in general, the performance of each PV was improved upon the coating process, with the best PV panel performance obtained when using a mixture of 0.4% TiO2 and 0.2% ZnO concentration by increasing the output power by 22.81% and increasing the efficiency by 29.47%.