Photovoltaic thermal system with phase changing materials and MWCNT nanofluids for high thermal efficiency and hydrogen production

Abstract

The performance and electrical output of photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems are significantly affected by an increase in the PV cell temperature. The integration of nanofluids has been explored as a solution to mitigate cell temperature rise in PV/T modules. However, the use of nanofluids raises environmental concerns. Thus, in this study, the attempt has been made to incorporate both MWCNT nanofluids and phase changing materials to reduce the cell temperature and which apparently improvised the electrical output and thermal efficiency. A series of tests conducted on five different samples at varying mass flow rates of 30 LPM, 40 LPM, and 50 LPM. MWCNT was dispersed in water at volumes of 0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.15% v/v using the sonication method. The proposed PV/T hybrid system effectively reduced panel temperature. Additionally, the integration of PCM and nanofluids resulted in an 8% increase in electrical power and a 12% improvement in thermal efficiency. Furthermore, higher nanofluid mass flow rates led to an enhanced electrical efficiency, ranging from 12.5% to 14.5%. Findings reveal that the incorporation of PCM with nanofluids holds promise for sustainable and improved energy production. Moreover, the possibility of hydrogen production through electrolysis is a viable option that permits further investigation.