Experimental Investigation on Thermal Performance of a PV/T-PCM (Photovoltaic/Thermal) System Cooling with a PCM and Nanofluid

M. M. Sarafraz, Mohammad Reza Safaei, Arturo S. Leon, Iskander Tlili, Tawfeeq Abdullah Alkanhal, Zhe Tian, Marjan Goodarzi and M. Arjomandi
Additional contact information
M. M. Sarafraz: School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
Mohammad Reza Safaei: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
Arturo S. Leon: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
Iskander Tlili: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
Tawfeeq Abdullah Alkanhal: Department of Mechatronics and System Engineering, College of Engineering, Majmaah University, Al- Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
Zhe Tian: School of Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China & Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Intelligent Electro-Hydraulic Control (Fuzhou University), Fujian Province University, Fuzhou 350108, China
Marjan Goodarzi: Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Environment Research Group, Faculty of Environment and Labour Safety, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
M. Arjomandi: School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 13, 1-16

Abstract: In the present work, an experimental investigation is performed to assess the thermal and electrical performance of a photovoltaic solar panel cooling with multi-walled carbon nanotube–water/ethylene glycol (50:50) nano-suspension (MWCNT/WEG50). The prepared nanofluid was stabilized using an ultrasonic homogenizer together with the addition of 0.1vol% of nonylphenol ethoxylates at pH = 8.9. To reduce the heat loss and to improve the heat transfer rate between the coolant and the panel, a cooling jacket was designed and attached to the solar panel. It was also filled with multi-walled carbon nanotube–paraffin phase change material (PCM) and the cooling pipes were passed through the PCM. The MWCNT/WEG50 nanofluid was introduced into the pipes, while the nano-PCM was in the cooling jacket. The electrical and thermal power of the system and equivalent electrical–thermal power of the system was assessed at various local times and at different mass fractions of MWCNTs. Results showed that with an increase in the mass concentration of the coolant, the electricity and power production were promoted, while with an increase in the mass concentration of the nanofluid, the pumping power was augmented resulting in the decrease in the thermal–electrical equivalent power. It was identified that a MWCNT/WEG50 nano-suspension at 0.2wt% can represent the highest thermal and electrical performance of 292.1 W/m 2 . It was also identified that at 0.2wt%, ~45% of the electricity and 44% of the thermal power can be produced with a photovoltaic (PV) panel between 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

Keywords: photovoltaic/thermal system; multiwalled carbon nanotube; equivalent electrical–thermal power; phase change material; paraffin (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: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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