CFD Analysis of Hybrid Photovoltaic Thermal (PV/Th) Solar Collector Efficiency Incorporating Ag-AL2O3/water Hybrid Nanofluids

Abstract

The optimization of energy consumption is closely tied to enhancing the power output of photovoltaic panels. This study offers a numerical investigation of the utilization of hybrid nanofluids (Ag-Al2O3-water) as a cooling fluid in a hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PV/Th) collector, aiming to improve electrical performance by lowering the PV cells operating temperature. The hybrid PV/Th collector comprises a photovoltaic panel (PV) coupled with a thermal collector, including a heat sink equipped with rectangular ribs positioned at the bottom of the PV module. This research explores the impact of critical configuration parameters, such as inlet velocities of working fluid and nanoparticle volume fractions, on the Nu number, PV cell temperature, and both thermal and electrical efficiencies within steady-state operating conditions. The 3D numerical simulation to analyze the overall performance of a hybrid PV/Th collector was conducted using ANSYS Fluent software version 17.1. The numerical findings demonstrate that increasing the nanoparticle volume fraction elevates the cooling fluid's thermal conductivity, consequently enhancing the heat transfer by conduction. Furthermore, higher coolant velocities enhance heat transfer by convection, resulting in a more effective heat transfer rate within the PV/Th system. This, in turn, reduces the operating temperature and significantly enhances the hybrid PV/Th system's overall performance.