Optimization and numerical investigation of the effect of using phase change material and two-phase nanofluid flow in a V-shaped tube mounted in a thermal solar panel

Abstract

BackgroundThis article presents a numerical analysis and optimization of the cooling of a thermal solar panel due to the place of renewable energies in the future energy supply. The panel is one of a set of panels in a solar system. For this purpose, a 10 W panel with a V-shaped copper tube is simulated. Laminar and homogeneous water/copper nanofluid (NFD) flows in the tube. MethodsThe temperature of the panel (TPL), the value of PCM volume fraction, and the outlet temperature of the nanofluid (TNF) are determined in an hour. The flow of NFD is modeled using the two-phase method, and COMSOL software is employed to simulate the flow of NFD and PCM phase change. Significant findingsThe results demonstrate that enhancing the tube diameter (TUD) reduces the TPL and the outlet TNF, enhancing the PCM's phase change time. The TPL and the outlet TNF are reduced with the FLR of the NFD. Optimization of the geometry and flow parameters showed that the maximum outlet temperature occurred at the lowest pressure drop in the diameter of 6 mm and the FLR of 0.76 lit/min.