The numerical analysis and optimization of a Photovoltaic thermal collector with three different plain, ribbed, and porous-ribbed absorber tubes and a nanofluid coolant using two-phase model

Abstract

BackgroundThis paper deals with 3D numerical analysis and optimization of a Photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collector with water/silver nanofluid (NF) coolant. MethodsThree different absorber tubes with the plain wall, ribbed, and porous-ribbed configurations were investigated considering four Re numbers (500–2000) and four nanoparticle concentration (φ) of between 0 and 2%. Significant FindingsThe results indicated that the application of porous-ribbed absorber tube at Re numbers of 500–2000 enhances the overall efficiency of the PVT (ηoverall) by 28–32% and 30–32% higher than that are obtained for the plain and ribbed configurations, respectively. Within the studied range of Re (500–2000), the TPV in PVT with the porous-ribbed tube is nearly 1.19–0.95% and 0.94–0.85% lower than that with the plain and ribbed tubes, respectively. In addition, the escalation of Re from 500 to 2000 leads to reduce TPVby 0.81%, 0.66%, and 0.52% for the plain, ribbed, and porous-ribbed configurations, respectively. The increase in φ from 0 to 2% increases pressure drop inside three studied tubes by 41%, and also decreases TPV by 0.18%, 0.16%, and 0.06% in the plain, ribbed, and porous-ribbed configurations, respectively.