Insight into the investigation of Fe3O4/SiO2 nanoparticles suspended aqueous nanofluids in hybrid photovoltaic/thermal system

Abstract

This experimental study aims to evaluate the energetic performance of a photovoltaic-thermal system with a serpentine tube collector. A photovoltaic-thermal unit with a serpentine tube collector is used to compare the unit's performance metrics to those of a PV panel without cooling. The considered heat transfer fluid is the hybrid nanofluid prepared using water and Fe3O4/SiO2 nanoparticles. Using irradiance data from an average day in Aligarh, India, the experiment is conducted in indoor environment in a solar simulator under regulated operating circumstances. Effects of mono and hybrid nanofluids are examined at 3% wt. concentration for varying flow rates (20, 30, 40 LPM). The experimentation analysis showed that the maximum drop in PV temperature at 20 LPM is 25 °C, 24 °C, and then 16 °C for Fe3O4/water, SiO2/water, and Fe3O4/SiO2 nanofluids-based PVT systems, respectively with a highest possible increase in electrical efficiency of 12.6 percent, 18.46 percent, and 24.34 percent, respectively, when compared to traditional PV systems. At a flow rate of 40 LPM, the best performance is obtained using a hybrid PVT method coupled with an aqueous Fe3O4/SiO2 nanofluid. Additionally, it is discovered that hybrid nano-fluid-based PVT systems exhibit 10.5% and 5% greater thermal efficiency than Fe3O4-Water and SiO2-Water PVT systems, respectively. The overall highest efficiency of 67% is achieved for hybrid nanofluid at a flow rate of 40LPM. The hybrid Fe3O4/SiO2 nanofluid is capable of serving as an acceptable cooling fluid for the PV/T collector, as evidenced by the PV/T system's notable improvement in thermal and electrical efficiency and prominent cooling impact. Keywords : Solar energy, Hybrid nano-fluid, Heat transfer, Electrical Power, Thermal Efficiency, PVT system. • The role of hybrid nanofluids for the performance of PVT systems was studied. • Hybrid nature of nanofluid make it more stable than mono-nanofluid. • Electrical and thermal efficiency were analysed at fixed concentration and varying flowrate. • Comparison of Fe 3 O 4 /SiO 2 nanofluid is carried out with individual mono-nanofluid.