Experimental investigation of the usability of the rifled serpentine tube to improve energy and exergy performances of a nanofluid-based photovoltaic/thermal system

Abstract

This experimental study aims to energetically and exergetically compare the performance of a PVT system with sheet-and-plain serpentine tube collector (base PVT system) with two cases of modified PVT systems. The modified PVT systems are the replacements of plain serpentine tube with rifled serpentine tube with 3 ribs (3-start rifled PVT system) and 6 ribs (6-start rifled PVT system). The electrical parameter of the PV module without cooling is compared with the three cases of the PVT system with cooling. The cooling fluid is water/magnetite nanofluid. The effect of nanofluid flow rates (20–80 kg/h) and nanoadditive volume concentrations (0–2%) over the three cases of the PVT system is investigated to propose a suitable combination of flow rate and NA concentration offering the best energetic and exergetic performances. Thus, the 6-start rifled PVT system achieved a maximum of 22.5% and 3.8% higher overall energy efficiency, and 5.9%, and 1.9% higher overall exergy efficiency than the base and 3-start rifled PVT systems at flow rate and concentration of 80 kg/h and 2%. Finally, the electrical power generated by the base, 3-start rifled, and 6-start rifled PVT systems achieved maximum enhancement of 27.5%, 29.5%, and 31.5% compared to the PV module without cooling.