Simulation for impact of nanofluid spectral splitter on efficiency of concentrated solar photovoltaic thermal system

Abstract

Nanofluid filter has been applied in current research to boost the efficiency of a concentrated photovoltaic thermal (CPVT) module. Owing to tunable optical features of nanofluid and its greater thermal characteristics, it was utilized as spectral filter and cooling fluid in the present proposed solar system. The mixture of silver and water has been utilized as working fluid and its concentration within the filter and cooling duct are 0.005 and 0.05, respectively. Three dimensional models have been proposed involving spectral distribution of solar irradiation. Also, transmissivity of nanofluid filter has been derived according to empirical models. Two structures have been applied for cooling duct: 1) straight bottom wall; 2) wall with triangular obstacles (semi-wavy wall). As velocity of nanofluid within the filter (Vf) section enhances, the electrical performance increases about 3.4 %. For case 4, with augment of concentration ratio (CR) from 3 to 30, the electrical performance reduces about 13.57 % while thermal performance augments about 5.68 %. When CR=10, utilizing case 4 makes electrical and thermal performance to enhance about 25.09 % and 22.36 % in comparison to case 1. Also, cell temperature decreases about 47.82 % with applying the filter within the second structure of the cooling duct.