The application of TiO2 nanofluids in photovoltaic thermal collector systems

Abstract

Solar energy may be transformed into several types of energy, including electrical energy. Solar cell efficiency is low because some of the thermal energy that solar panels collect is not used. A solar panel’s relative efficiency and heat transmission decrease as it heats up. By collecting thermal energy and cooling it, photovoltaic systems may operate more efficiently. In this study, a thermal photovoltaic collector (PVT) system with a working fluid is used to cool PV panels. Laboratory-scale testing and simulation using the ANSYS Software were applied in the analysis. The simulation outcomes confirm the experimental values. Nanofluid serves as the working fluid because it has strong heat transmission qualities and has the characteristics of titanium dioxide (TiO 2). Average PV operating temperatures may be reduced by using TiO 2-based PVT systems. This can be explained by the fact that the fluid makes it easier for heat to be transferred. In comparison to PV-ground cells, photovoltaic solar cells now have a 2.11% higher efficiency. When utilizing TiO 2-based PVT systems, an average photovoltaic temperature of 58.5 °C is generated, with a 13.04% photovoltaic efficiency.