Performance enhancement of hybrid solar PV/T system with graphene based nanofluids. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Venkatesh, Telugu; Manikandan, S.; Selvam, C.; Harish, Sivasankaran
• Is Part Of: International communications in heat and mass transfer. Volume 130(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: Graphene nanoplatelets -- PV/T system -- Nanofluid -- Energy efficiency; Heat -- Transmission -- Periodicals; Mass transfer -- Periodicals; Chaleur -- Transmission -- Périodiques; Transfert de masse -- Périodiques; Heat -- Transmission; Mass transfer; Periodicals; 621.4022
• DOI: 10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2021.105794
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0735-1933

Abstract

Abstract: In this work, we experimentally demonstrate a hybrid PV/T system with improved energy efficiency utilizing water based graphene nanofluids. Graphene nanoplatelets (GnP) concentration is varied in this study to understand its influence on solar panel temperature, energy efficiency of PV and PV/T systems. The GnPs were dispersed in the water under ultrasonic vibration with sodium deoxycholate (SDC) as a surfactant for 1 h. The results show that increase in graphene concentration in water improves the thermal conductivity significantly when compared to the base fluid. This in turn reduces the panel temperature by ~20 °C for the volume concentration of 0.3 vol% at 0.085 kg/s. The results confirmed that the use of graphene nanoplatelets significantly improves the energy efficiency of PV and PV/T systems by 23% and 13% respectively. The present study will be helpful in designing the energy efficient PV/T system with nanofluids. Highlights: Performance of PV/T system with graphene nanoplatelets (GnP)-water nanofluid was studied. Thermal conductivity of base fluid was enhanced by 11% with addition of GnP. The panel temperature was reduced from 65 °C to 45 °C with the use of nanofluid. PV efficiency was increased by 23% with the use of nanofluid.