Economic and environmental analysis of using metal-oxides/water nanofluid in photovoltaic thermal systems (PVTs)

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) 2018-09, Vol.159, p.1234-1243
• Main Authors: Abadeh, Abazar, Rejeb, Oussama, Sardarabadi, Mohammad, Menezo, Christophe, Passandideh-Fard, Mohammad, Jemni, Abdelmajid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative energy; Aluminum oxide; Coolants; Distilled water; Economic analysis; Economic and environmental analysis; Electricity pricing; Emission analysis; Emissions control; Energy sources; Engineering Sciences; Environmental aspects; Exergy; Fluids; Metal oxides; Nanofluid based collector; Nanofluids; Nanoparticles; Oxides; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic thermal systems; Photovoltaics; Renewable energy sources; Size reduction; Solar cells; Subsidies; Titanium dioxide; Weight; Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.06.089

In the present study, an experimental setup for a PVT system is designed and fabricated to investigate the economic and environmental aspects of using different nano-oxides/water fluids. Selected coolant fluids are: pure water, ZnO/water, Al2O3/water and TiO2/water nanofluids. To make nanofluids, nanoparticles are dispersed in distilled water by 0.2% weight fractions (wt%), separately. Based on the experimental results the amount of annual emission reduction and cost saving are investigated for different coolants. Furthermore, the payback period of the PVTs is compared with that of a conventional PV unit. The results are presented in five different scenarios due to increasing of the electricity price, up to the final price and the government subsidies for the renewable energy sources (1st: 10% annual price increasing, with no subsidy, 2nd: linear increasing price, with no subsidy, 3rd: 10% the annual price increasing, 50% subsidy, 4th: linear price increasing, 50% subsidy and 5th: linear price increasing, 75% subsidy). From the energy viewpoint, by using pure water, PVT/TiO2, PVT/ZnO and PVT/Al2O3, the size reduction of the PVT system in comparison with that of the PV is 21, 32, 33 and 24%, respectively, and from the exergy viewpoint these values are about 5, 6, 7, 6%, respectively. •The economic and environmental aspects of using nanofluid in PVT systems are investigated.•Experiments are performed for four metal-oxides nanofluid (by 0.2 wt.%).•The data are analyzed from both energy and exergy viewpoints.•Results of the PVT are compared with those of a conventional PV.•Adding nanofluids considerably enhance the payback period of a PVT system.