Unveiling Potential: Hybrid Nanofluid-Driven Strategies for Maximizing Electrical Efficiency in Photovoltaic Thermal Systems with Trapezoidal Flow Channel for Coolant Purposes

Abstract

In this article, a photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) system is optimized using hybrid nanofluids composed of copper and aluminum oxide, with water as the base fluid for cooling applications. The PV/T system features a simple configuration, with mono-crystalline silicon above the flow channel, copper functioning as the absorber, and a trapezoidal-shaped flow channel. The inlet height of the flow channel is fixed, while the outlet height is variable, defining an aspect ratio that ranges from 0.4 to 1. Numerical modeling is carried out using COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0 through the finite element method, applying the two-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes and energy equations. The study focuses on analyzing cell temperature and electrical efficiency using both qualitative and quantitative approaches by varying the Reynolds number, aspect ratio, inlet temperature, and volume fraction of the hybrid nanofluids.Key findings: The results demonstrated a significant 37% reduction in cell temperature as the Reynolds number increased from 100 to 400, and a 1.8% reduction when the aspect ratio was minimized to 0.4. Additionally, cell efficiency improved by 8.4% and 2.1% as the Reynolds number increased from 100 to 1000 and the volume fraction from 0.01 to 0.1, respectively. These findings provide effective strategies for enhancing the electrical efficiency of PV/T systems. "The study suggests optimizing the cell efficiency of PV/T systems through a new configuration of the flow channel, focusing on adjusting the outlet height and the concentration of nanoparticles in the base fluid.