Graphene Nanoparticles (GNP) nanofluids as key cooling media on a flat solar panel through micro-sized channels

Abstract

Typically, in a solar-to-electricity energy conversion process from a PV solar panel, this mechanism often accompanied with a creation of by-products which refers to unproductive heat on the surface of PV solar panel. This unwanted heat energy produced will lead to reduction of total effective output of electrical parameters due to the negative inversely proportional relationship between PV temperature and output efficiency. Therefore, it is important to cool the temperature of PV panel relatively in optimizing the output efficiency. This paper is focusing on using state-of-arts nano-sized materials (graphene particles (GNP) in a liquid solution) to achieve the cooling desired. In the previous simulation research carried out on the similar subject, it was found that by having multiple channels with equal volume, the cooling effects will be peaked using graphene nanofluids. This paper presents the experimental setup and fabrication methods using GNP nanofluids as key media in studying the effectiveness of GNP in cooling of a flat solar panel through continuous flowing of GNP nanofluids inside multiple micro-sized channels which were made in direct contact with the exposed backside of the PV solar panel. It is expected that GNP with its enhanced thermo-physical properties compared to water, the cooling efficiency will increase subsequently. Cooling effects due to different pumping flowrates were also being studied respectively. Keywords: Nanofluids, Solar panel cooling, Graphene Nanoparticles (GNP), Micro-sized channels