Examining Various Finned Collector Geometries in the Water/Al2O3 Based PV/T System: An Analysis Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation

Abstract

Nanofluid-based finned collector designs have been explored to enhance solar spectrum utilization and thermal efficiency in photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) systems. Combining nanofluids with finned collector designs improves heat transfer processes. Over the past five decades, various research methods have been used to analyze system performance, including experimental studies, theoretical analysis, design modification, advanced technologies, and soft computing techniques. This research examines the impact of fin geometry on energy conversion of Water/Al2O3-based PV/T systems using 3D CFD modeling simulations using ANSYS Fluent and ANSYS Steady State Thermal software. This study found that the quadrilateral fin geometry produced the lowest PV temperatures, followed by each concentration's pentagon and triangle fin geometries. The PV temperature decreased as the electrical efficiency increased, with the quadrilateral fin geometry with 1% Water/Al2O3 fluid producing the highest efficiency of 12.83%. The amount of PV heat absorbed by the working fluid affects the output temperature, which causes thermal energy conversion to be inversely proportional to electrical efficiency. Pentagon fin geometry with 4% Water/Al2O3 fluid produces the highest thermal conversion of 22.28%. In addition, this study also found significant differences in results for the three fin geometries on the collector, but no significant differences for the six Water/Al2O3 working fluids studied.