Experimental performance analysis of enhanced concentrated photovoltaic utilizing various mass flow rates of Al2O3-nanofluid: Energy, exergy, and exergoeconomic study

Abstract

The rise in the operating temperature of the modules is one of the key issues limiting the intensive utilization of the solar photovoltaic concentrator (C-PV) system. The excessive heat through the panel reduces the generated power by around 0.5 % for each 1 °C above its nominated operating temperature. Thermal management of the C-PV panel is of considerable importance to maintain its temperature within the acceptable operating temperature. Therefore, a novel active cooling system for the C-PV module with two types of coolants, namely pure water and water-based aluminum oxide (Al2O3), nanofluids of various flow rates were explored. Given the low cost of such a cooling setup, the results suggest that ducting channel arrangement has the potential to effectively cool the C-PV module. The results indicate that when compared to only water, a C-PV with a flow rate of 0.05 kg/s of 0.7 % Al2O3-nanofluid improves electrical output, electrical, and thermal efficiencies by 10.40 %, 10.24 %, and 35.79 %, respectively. Furthermore, the exergy efficiencies achieved by 0.7 % Al2O3-nanofluid/C-PV and water/C-PV systems are 55.78 % and 18.10 %, respectively. The optimum exergetic benefit with the lowest cost was estimated to be 14.65 kwhψ/$ at rate of 0.05 kg/s.