Mixed convection air-cooled PV/T solar collector with integrate porous medium

• Published in: Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering 2024-03, Vol.46 (3), Article 144
• Main Authors: Boulhidja, Saber, Bourouis, Abderrahim, Boukelia, Taqiy Eddine, Omara, Abdeslam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; Attitude (inclination); Convection cooling; Darcy number; Engineering; Finite volume method; Forced convection; Free convection; Heat exchange; Mechanical Engineering; Porous media; Review Paper; Richardson number; Thermal conductivity; Thermal energy; Thickness; Velocity coupling
• ISSN: 1678-5878; 1806-3691
• DOI: 10.1007/s40430-024-04728-x

This numerical investigation aims to evaluate the performances of an inclined PVT solar collector by integrating a porous medium while considering the mixed convection effect of the coolant (natural and forced convection). To achieve this, a porous layer was adhered to the back wall of the PV module, aiming to recover a large amount of thermal energy by increasing both thermal conductivity and heat exchange surface. The governing equations are solved numerically using the finite volume method, while the SIMPLE algorithm is employed to effectively address the pressure–velocity coupling. The impacts of panel tilt angle (α), Richardson number (Ri), thickness of the porous layer (Ep) and Darcy number (Da) on the PVT system performances are examined by presenting velocity contours, thermal field, thermal and electrical efficiencies. The obtained results indicate that, significant improvements in both electrical and thermal efficiencies of the system without integrated porous layer when natural convection is the dominant (Ri = 10). Specifically, enhancements of up to 9.88% and 10% in these efficiencies are reached when the collector is installed at α = 45°. Moreover, the integration of a porous layer with an intermediate permeability value (Da = 10 –3 ), can enhance both electrical and thermal efficiencies by more than 23% and 28%, respectively, under specific values of the other parameters (i.e., Ri = 10, Ep = 0.7and α = 45°). Also, at high value of porous layer thickness (Ep = 0.7), the impact of panel tilt angle on both electrical and thermal efficiencies becomes insignificant; irrespective of Richardson number (Ri).