Experimental Investigation for Improving the Performance of Photovoltaic Thermal Collector Using Nanofluids

Abstract

The utilization of solar energy is rapidly increasing day by day. Hence newlineimproving the efficiency of solar panel is imperative for ameliorating the energy newlinecrises. Numerous techniques were used by the researchers, users and manufacturers newlineto enhance the performance of the solar module. But till May 2019, very few studies newlinehave been made by using nanofluid as a heat transfer fluid in Photovoltaic - Thermal newlinecollector (PVT) system. Because of high dispersion stability, less particle clogging newlinein heat transfer channel, nanofluids need less pumping power with surface to volume newlineratio being high. Based on the above mentioned excellent properties the nanofluid newlineinfluences the PVT system in enhancing the electrical efficiency of the Photovoltaic newlinepanel. To study the impact of nanofluid on the PVT systems performance, this newlineresearch work was carried out in four stages. newlineIn the first stage, Alumina, Copper oxide and Alumina -Copper oxide newline(50:50) were mixed with water by using two step preparation methods. Three newlinevolume concentrations such as 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 % were prepared and used in this newlinework. This study also presents the characterization of nanofluids such as EDS for newlineelemental analysis of nanoparticle, TEM for the morphology of nanoparticle, SEM newlinefor finding the uniform dispersion of nanoparticle in water and Zeta potential for the newlinestability of prepared nanofluid newline