Simulation of the integration of PVT and TEG with a cooling duct filled with nanofluid

Abstract

Recognizing the pivotal role of the cooling method in enhancing Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) efficiency, this study delves into the combined application of two innovative techniques: a finned tube and a confined jet. Additionally, the integration of a TEG (Thermoelectric Generator) is introduced to amplify output power. The improvement in cooling efficiency is achieved through infusing a composite of Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) and Fe3O4 into the coolant. The investigation encompasses three distinct cooling system configurations: 1) the base case employing a conventional pipe, 2) a system with a finned-tube cooling unit, and 3) a setup combining a confined jet with a finned tube. The introduction of hybrid nanoparticles results in an overall performance boost of around 2.64 % compared to the base case. Furthermore, the efficacy of the nanofluid concentration (φ) in the base case surpasses that of the Finned Jet case by a factor of 3.86. Notably, an increase in irradiance magnitude and jet inlet velocity contributes to a commendable enhancement in thermal performance, registering approximately 8.66 % and 3.48 %, respectively. The incorporation of fins and confined jets yields substantial improvements, resulting in an 86.13 % enhancement in TEG performance and a commendable 26.42 % rise in thermal performance.

Keywords

• Hybrid nanofluid
• Solar panel
• Renewable energy
• TEG module
• Electrical efficiency