Journal Published Online: 02 October 2018
Volume 48, Issue 2

Energy Investigation in Serpentine Heat Exchanger Using Aluminum Oxide Nanofluid on Solar Photovoltaic/Thermal System

CODEN: JTEVAB

Abstract

A solar photovoltaic thermal system (SPV/T) is a hybrid technology that produces electrical power and thermal energy simultaneously with better overall performance. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of utilizing a nanofluid as one of the coolants in the performance of an SPV/T system. The working fluids considered in this evaluation of the system are pure water and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles of φ = 0.1 % and 0.2 % concentration in (w/v)%, mixed in milli-Q water as the base fluid. The study focuses on the heat transfer characteristics of working fluids through a serpentine flow copper tube heat exchanger in comparison with water. This experimental setup consists of an SPV/T system with 100 W capacity and a collector area of 0.914622 m2. For the flow supplied by the pump to the SPV/T system for the nanofluids with φ = 0.1 % and 0.2 % and water at mass flow rates of 0.015, 0.0133, and 0.0117 kg/s, the electrical (PV) efficiency for water was between 10.82 % and 11.06 %—for Al2O3 0.1 %, 12.19 %–13.13 %, and for Al2O3 0.2 %, 12.47 %–13.41 %. The thermal efficiency for water was between 53.61 % and 54.07 %; for Al2O3 0.1 %, it was 69.45 %–69.67 %, and for Al2O3 0.2 %, it was 70.76 %–71.02 %, respectively.

Author Information

Ramadass, Geetha
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Guindy, Institute for Energy Studies, Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Vijayalakshmi, M. M.
Department of Building & Environment, Sathyabama Institute of Science & Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Natarajan, E.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Guindy, Institute for Energy Studies, Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Pages: 24
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Stock #: JTE20170493
ISSN: 0090-3973
DOI: 10.1520/JTE20170493