Indoor Investigation for Improving the Hybrid Photovoltaic /Thermal System Performance Using Nanofluid (AL2O3-Water)

Abstract

Hybrid Photovoltaic/Thermal system (PV/T) wasdesigned and implemented to investigate the improving of the electrical and thermal efficiency by using nanofluids. The electrical efficiency reduced due to the significant reduction in the maximum power of the photovoltaic panel under rising temperature, for this reason, the payback period of the PV system is extended and the lifespan of the PV module may also be shortened. In order to resolve this problem, cooling technique can be utilized effectively dissipate the heat from the PV module. An experimental rig is designed which is consisting of a heat exchanger and working fluid circulating pipes are placed at PV rear surface. Forced cooling using (AL2O3-Water) nanofluid with different concentration ratios tests is utilized to reduce the operating temperature of PV. The results indicated that using base fluid, the temperature of the PV module was (79.1oC) and a conversion efficiency of about (8 %.).While using nanofluid at different concentration ratios (0.1- 0.5 step 0.1) % at constant mass flow rate (0.2 l/s), the temperature is more dropped significantly to (42.2oC) at concentration ratio (0.3%) and led to increase in the efficiency of solar panel to (12.1%), but when increasing of concentration ratios more than (0.3%) that led to increase PV temperature to (52.2oC) and led to a decrease of PV efficiency to (11.3%). The heat which was extracted from the PV module by the cooling nanofluid can contribute to the overall energy output of the system.

Keywords

• pv cooling
• temperature effect
• nanofluids
• improving efficiency