Experimental investigation into efficiency of SiO2/water-based nanofluids in photovoltaic thermal systems using response surface methodology

• Published in: Solar energy 2022-03, Vol.235, p.229-241
• Main Authors: Gelis, Kadir, Naci Celik, Ali, Ozbek, Kadir, Ozyurt, Omer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Deionization; Efficiency; Flow rates; Flow velocity; Independent variables; Mathematical models; Nanofluids; Nanoparticles; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic thermal system; Photovoltaics; PVT; Radiation; Response surface methodology; Silicon dioxide; Solar energy; Solar energy conversion; Solar radiation; Thermal energy; Thermodynamic efficiency; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2022.02.021

•Response surface methodology was applied.•A mathematical model was developed.•The influence of parameters on model results were analyzed statistically.•The thermal and electrical efficiency of the PV/T system was calculated.•A partitioned cooler design was used. Photovoltaic thermal systems (PVT) are systems that can convert solar energy into electricity and thermal energy simultaneously. In this study, the effect of nanofluids on the electrical and thermal efficiency of PVTs was investigated using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). In the experimental study presently undertaken, SiO2 nanoparticles were suspended in deionized water, which was used as base fluid in 3 different volumetric ratios (0.1–0.2–0.3). A mathematical model has been developed to calculate the thermal and electrical efficiency of the PVT system using the RSM approach. In the RSM method, the flow rate of the nanofluid, the nanofluid volumetric concentration, and the solar radiation were determined as independent variables, and their effects on the thermal and electrical efficiency of PV/Ts were statistically investigated. The model presently developed was validated based on the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The most influential parameters affecting the electrical and thermal efficiencies have been found as radiation, flow rate and volumetric concentration, respectively. The variance between the mathematical models developed and the experimental results was measured in terms of thecoefficient of determination (R2), which was between 0.85% and 1.91% for the electrical efficiency and between −6.34% and 1.06%. for the thermal efficiency. As a result, the mathematical models developed for the electrical and thermal efficiencies of the PV/T system has been successfully verified based on the experimental outcomes.