Simulation of the integration of PVT and TEG with a cooling duct filled with nanofluid

Abstract

Recognizing the pivotal role of the cooling method in enhancing Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) efficiency, this study delves into the combined application of two innovative techniques: a finned tube and a confined jet. Additionally, the integration of a TEG (Thermoelectric Generator) is introduced to amplify output power. The improvement in cooling efficiency is achieved through infusing a composite of Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) and Fe3O4 into the coolant. The investigation encompasses three distinct cooling system configurations: 1) the base case employing a conventional pipe, 2) a system with a finned-tube cooling unit, and 3) a setup combining a confined jet with a finned tube. The introduction of hybrid nanoparticles results in an overall performance boost of around 2.64% compared to the base case. Furthermore, the efficacy of the nanofluid concentration (ϕ) in the base case surpasses that of the Finned Jet case by a factor of 3.86. Notably, an increase in irradiance magnitude and jet inlet velocity contributes to a commendable enhancement in thermal performance, registering approximately 8.66% and 3.48%, respectively. The incorporation of fins and confined jets yields substantial improvements, resulting in an 86.13% enhancement in TEG performance and a commendable 26.42% rise in thermal performance.