Thermal modeling and experimental validation of semitransparent photovoltaic- thermal hybrid collector using CuO nanofluid

Abstract

In this research article, thermal modeling is developed for a semitransparent photovoltaic-thermal hybrid collector and the results were experimentally validated under the climatic conditions of Coimbatore, India. The semitransparent photovoltaic-thermal hybrid collector system comprises a semitransparent polycrystalline silicon Photovoltaic module with serpentine tube arrangement with water and nanofluid for absorbing thermal energy from the photovoltaic module. Copper oxide with a volume fraction of 0.2% is used as nanofluid and deionized water as the base fluid. The mass flow rate of nanofluid was optimized to 0.016 kg/s. The heat energy from the PV module is dissipated to the Phase Change Materials through the working fluid. Paraffin wax with steatite composite is used as the Phase Change Material. Thermal modeling of SPV-THC is developed by applying the energy balance equations and validated by experimental analysis. The experimental result shows that the average reduction in PV module temperatures of SPV-THC using water and CuO nanofluid was 9 °C and 12 °C respectively. The electrical efficiency of SPV-THC using CuO nanofluid and water improved by 11.2% and 5.9% respectively than the conventional opaque photovoltaic modules. The thermal efficiency of SPV-THC using CuO nanofluid improved by 43% compared to SPV-THC using water. Further, the overall exergy efficiency of SPV-THC using CuO nanofluid and water increased by 26% and 12.25% respectively compared to the conventional PV system.