Investigation of using hybrid nanofluid-phase change material spectral splitter in photovoltaic/thermal system

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

2 Professor/Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

3 Associate Professor/ School of Mechanical and Construction Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Abstract

The photovoltaic/thermal system is capable of generating both heat and electricity simultaneously. The purpose of using spectral filters is to make full use of the solar radiation spectrum and thermal separation of photovoltaic and thermal units. The purpose of this paper was to investigate a new hybrid spectral filter consisting of phase change material and nanofluid to achieve a filter close to the ideal spectral filter. In this regard, the photovoltaic/thermal system with a combined nanofluid-phase change material spectral filter was simulated using energy balance equations in MATLAB software and its performance was compared with two conventional and nanofluid-based spectral splitting photovoltaic/thermal systems from energy and exergy viewpoints. Also, the optical properties of nanofluid and phase change material were simulated and the models were validated with the experimental data available in the literature. The results showed that by using a combined filter the photovoltaic temperature can be reduced by up to 50% and the output fluid temperature can be increased by twice. The exergy efficiency of the system with the combined filter was about 14% and 22% higher than conventional and nanofluid-based spectral splitting photovoltaic/thermal systems, respectively. The system also achieved the highest exergy efficiency at concentration ratios greater than 15.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Volume 53, Issue 7
October 2021
Pages 4429-4454

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