Numerical approach of Al2O3-water nanofluid in photovoltaic cooling system using mixture multiphase model

Abstract

This article aims to numerically analyze the cooling system of photovoltaic device using mixture multiphase model. Aluminum oxide (Al2O3)-water nanofluids at various concentration of 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 vol.% were used as cooling fluid for photovoltaic module. The constant and uniform heat flux of 800 W/m2 was applied on photovoltaic (PV) module and the various cooling fluids flowed under PV module at Reynold number of 200 and 500. The temperature distribution and local heat transfer coefficient of cooling fluid were observed. The results show that increasing concentration of Al2O3 nanoparticle enhances the local heat transfer coefficient and decreases the temperature of PV cell. The significant enhancement of convection heat transfer of Al2O3-water nanofluid occur at entrance region. The operating temperature of PV cell can be decreased till 303 K for 2 vol.% Al2O3-water nanofluid at Reynold number of 500.