Synthesis and Application of Ternary Nanofluid for Photovoltaic-Thermal System: Comparative Analysis of Energy and Exergy Performance with Single and Hybrid Nanofluids

Humphrey Adun, Mustapha Mukhtar, Micheal Adedeji, Terfa Agwa, Kefas Hyelda Ibrahim, Olusola Bamisile and Mustafa Dagbasi
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Humphrey Adun: Energy Systems Engineering Department, Cyprus International University, Haspolat-Lefkosa, Mersin 99238, Turkey
Mustapha Mukhtar: School of Economics and Management, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, China
Micheal Adedeji: Energy Systems Engineering Department, Cyprus International University, Haspolat-Lefkosa, Mersin 99238, Turkey
Terfa Agwa: Civil Engineering Department, Cyprus International University, Haspolat-Lefkosa, Mersin 99010, Turkey
Kefas Hyelda Ibrahim: Management Information Systems, Cyprus International University, Haspolat-Lefkosa, Mersin 99010, Turkey
Olusola Bamisile: School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
Mustafa Dagbasi: Energy Systems Engineering Department, Cyprus International University, Haspolat-Lefkosa, Mersin 99238, Turkey

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 15, 1-26

Abstract: The amelioration of photovoltaic (PV) and photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems have garnered increased research interest lately, more so due to the discovery of the thermal property augmentation of nanofluids. The overarching goal of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of mono, hybrid, and ternary hybrid nanofluids utilized as fluids for heat transfer applications and particularly as cooling mediums in PV/T applications. Al 2 O 3 , ZnO, Al 2 O 3 -ZnO, and Al 2 O 3 -ZnO-Fe 3 O 4 nanofluids are synthesized at 1% volume concentration using the two-step method. The zeta potential tests carried out showed that the fluids have high stability. The numerical model developed in this study was validated using real data culled from Cyprus International University. The findings in this study showed that the Al 2 O 3 -ZnO-Fe 3 O 4 ternary hybrid nanofluid and ZnO mono nanofluid were more efficient heat transfer fluids for the PV/T system. The optimum relative electrical PV/T efficiency against that of the PV is 8.13% while the electrical and thermal enhancement recorded in this study was 1.79% and 19.06%, respectively, measured for the ternary hybrid nanofluid based PV/T system. This present study shows that despite the limitation of pumping power and pressure drop associated with nanofluid in thermal systems, the close performance evaluation criterion values as compared with water is positive for practical utilization of nanofluid in PV/T systems.

Keywords: photovoltaic/thermal system; electrical efficiency; thermal efficiency; ternary nanofluid; pressure drop; pump work (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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