Thermal and exergy analysis of Pin-finned heatsinks for nanofluid cooled high concentrated photovoltaic thermal (HCPV/T) hybrid systems

Abstract

• Cooling performance of HCPV/T is systematically investigated. • Different shaped pin-finned heat sinks (inline and staggered) are examined. • Thermal performance is determined for MWCNT nanofluids. • Exergy efficiencies of pin-fin heat sinks in HCPV/T are evaluated. • 2% MWCNT nanoparticle concentration is found to be the optimum. Cooling of High Concentrated Photovoltaic (HCPV) cells is a major concern among researchers due to higher heat generation in the cells from highly concentrated solar radiation. In the present investigation, a numerical study of the High Concentrated Photovoltaic Thermal (HCPV/T) system is conducted for the combined effect of nanofluids and pin-finned heatsinks on the cooling performance. The investigation is carried out for AZUR SPACE solar cell (Model: 3C44C) for 1000 Concentration Ratio (CR) and the Reynolds number ( Re ) varies within the laminar range (600 ≤ R e ≤ 2200). Different shapes of pin-fins and their orientations are systematically investigated for the effect of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) nanoparticles in a base fluid. The results show a significant reduction in the temperature (up to 18K) of the solar cells for the MWCNT nanofluid compared to its base fluid counterpart. A higher heat transfer characteristics (Nusselt numbers) and lower average temperature of top surface of HCPV cells are found to occur for the staggered arrangements of pin-fins. It is also noticed that the volume concentration of MWCNT in water affects heat transfer characteristics and reduction in temperature takes place up to the volume concentration of 2%. About 1.3% reduction in temperature is predicted for adding MWCNT nanoparticle concentration from 0.5% to 2%. However, in terms of exergy efficiency, maximum overall exergy (about 67% for water flow rate of 0.00167 kg/s) is found for square pin-fins with inline arrangements. The average increase in Nusselt number from inline to staggered arrangement are around 11%, 74%, and 22% respectively for circular, square and triangular fins. The maximum electrical efficiency reaches to 42.2% for both 2% and 4% MWCNT with staggered circular pin-fins for a mass flow rate of 0.0058kg/s. Finally, it appears that a combination of nanofluids and pin-finned heatsinks gives a better cooling rate in the HCPV/T system and could be a promising alternative along with other cooling techniques.