A Simulation Study Of Photovoltaic Thermal Nanofluid Coolant Based Using Computation Fluid Dynamics

Yew, Wai Loon (2021) A Simulation Study Of Photovoltaic Thermal Nanofluid Coolant Based Using Computation Fluid Dynamics. Project Report. Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

Text (24 Pages) A Simulation Study Of Photovoltaic Thermal Nanofluid Coolant Based Using Computation Fluid Dynamics.pdf - Submitted Version Download (412kB)

Abstract

In the study, the photovoltaic thermal system using nanofluid as coolant is examined using numerical approach. Due to high cost and difficulty in preparing nanofluid, it is more practical to perform the study using numerical approach which is convenient and saves plenty of time. The photovoltaic thermal system is investigated numerically through Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach using Ansys 19.0 Fluent Software. The numerical study is based on different solar irradiation at different hours. The validation study between the experimental results and simulation results are achieved by examining the photovoltaic (PV) surface temperature and nanofluid outlet temperature. The MAPE results are within 10% of error which proved that there are good accuracy between the simulation and experimental results. Carbon-based nanoparticles appear to be the best choice among different type of nanoparticles based on the researcher experimental study. Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) nanofluid is selected for further study to examine the optimum operating parameters that provides higher conversion efficiency. The important operating parameters in photovoltaic thermal (PVT) system include solar irradiation, ambient temperature, wind velocity, nanoparticles mass fraction, coolant inlet temperature, and coolant mass flow rate. Parametric analysis is conducted to analyse the effect of different operating parameters on the thermal and electrical efficiencies. Taguchi analysis is conducted to analyse the optimum operating parameters that provides the higher conversion efficiency. The Taguchi analysis suggests that 900 W/m2 solar irradiation, 41℃ ambient temperature, 7 m/s wind speed, 2 wt% nanofluid mass fractions, 35℃ coolant inlet temperature, and 30 kg/h mass flow rate leads to highest improvement in overall efficiency of the photovoltaic thermal (PVT) system. Finally, there is some discrepancy in the simulation results because it does not accurately predict the thermal efficiency of the system. However, the simulation results are still valid because the examination of the results based on the plotted graph of thermal efficiency show the same trend.

Actions (login required)

View Item