Enhancement in the electrical efficiency of a photovoltaic thermal system through ternary nanofluids application: Nanomaterial shape effects and phase change material encased in a rectangular block

This research investigates the enhancement of electrical efficiency in a photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) system by utilizing water-based ternary hybrid nanofluids and incorporating a phase change material (PCM) within the flow channel. The system comprises a glass cover, a silicon layer, and a copper ab...

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Main Authors: Ahmad Ayyad Alharbi, Ali Rashash R. Alzahrani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215098624003057
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author Ahmad Ayyad Alharbi
Ali Rashash R. Alzahrani
author_facet Ahmad Ayyad Alharbi
Ali Rashash R. Alzahrani
author_sort Ahmad Ayyad Alharbi
collection DOAJ
description This research investigates the enhancement of electrical efficiency in a photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) system by utilizing water-based ternary hybrid nanofluids and incorporating a phase change material (PCM) within the flow channel. The system comprises a glass cover, a silicon layer, and a copper absorber, beneath which a flow channel contains a block filled with Paraffin Octadecane Wax (C18H38) as the PCM. The analysis is conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0, applying a conjugate heat transfer interface to simulate the interaction between conduction and forced convection within the solid and liquid domains. The study explores the phase transition behavior of the PCM, the thermal dynamics, and the electrical efficiency of the PV/T system under varying Reynolds numbers (50 to 150) and different nanomaterial shapes, including spherical, bricks, cylindrical, platelets, and blades. The simulations consider equal volume fractions of copper, alumina, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in the nanofluid, with total volume fractions ranging from 1 % to 10 %. Results reveal that blade-shaped nanoparticles significantly enhance the phase transition rate of paraffin, achieving an average phase transition of 81.97 % at Reynolds number 50 and 10 % volume fraction. Furthermore, the temperature variation along the PCM block shows rapid behavior with blade-shaped particles. Optimal electrical efficiency, reaching a peak of 9.42 %, is observed at Reynolds number 150 and 10 % volume fraction with blade-shaped nanoparticles. The study underscores the importance of nanoparticle shape and volume fraction in improving PV/T system performance. The findings recommend blade-shaped nanoparticles and higher nanofluid volume fractions to maximize electrical efficiency. This work provides valuable insights into the potential of ternary hybrid nanofluids and phase change materials for advancing PV/T technology.
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spelling doaj-art-80363d24197b45808301ae48abb05b2b2025-08-20T02:19:38ZengElsevierEngineering Science and Technology, an International Journal2215-09862025-01-016110191910.1016/j.jestch.2024.101919Enhancement in the electrical efficiency of a photovoltaic thermal system through ternary nanofluids application: Nanomaterial shape effects and phase change material encased in a rectangular blockAhmad Ayyad Alharbi0Ali Rashash R. Alzahrani1Department of Mathematics, College of Science, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia; Corresponding author.Mathematics Department, Faculty of Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi ArabiaThis research investigates the enhancement of electrical efficiency in a photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) system by utilizing water-based ternary hybrid nanofluids and incorporating a phase change material (PCM) within the flow channel. The system comprises a glass cover, a silicon layer, and a copper absorber, beneath which a flow channel contains a block filled with Paraffin Octadecane Wax (C18H38) as the PCM. The analysis is conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0, applying a conjugate heat transfer interface to simulate the interaction between conduction and forced convection within the solid and liquid domains. The study explores the phase transition behavior of the PCM, the thermal dynamics, and the electrical efficiency of the PV/T system under varying Reynolds numbers (50 to 150) and different nanomaterial shapes, including spherical, bricks, cylindrical, platelets, and blades. The simulations consider equal volume fractions of copper, alumina, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in the nanofluid, with total volume fractions ranging from 1 % to 10 %. Results reveal that blade-shaped nanoparticles significantly enhance the phase transition rate of paraffin, achieving an average phase transition of 81.97 % at Reynolds number 50 and 10 % volume fraction. Furthermore, the temperature variation along the PCM block shows rapid behavior with blade-shaped particles. Optimal electrical efficiency, reaching a peak of 9.42 %, is observed at Reynolds number 150 and 10 % volume fraction with blade-shaped nanoparticles. The study underscores the importance of nanoparticle shape and volume fraction in improving PV/T system performance. The findings recommend blade-shaped nanoparticles and higher nanofluid volume fractions to maximize electrical efficiency. This work provides valuable insights into the potential of ternary hybrid nanofluids and phase change materials for advancing PV/T technology.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215098624003057Phase Change MateriaBlade-ShapedNanoparticlesPhotovoltaic Thermal SystemElectrical Efficiency
spellingShingle Ahmad Ayyad Alharbi
Ali Rashash R. Alzahrani
Enhancement in the electrical efficiency of a photovoltaic thermal system through ternary nanofluids application: Nanomaterial shape effects and phase change material encased in a rectangular block
Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal
Phase Change Materia
Blade-Shaped
Nanoparticles
Photovoltaic Thermal System
Electrical Efficiency
title Enhancement in the electrical efficiency of a photovoltaic thermal system through ternary nanofluids application: Nanomaterial shape effects and phase change material encased in a rectangular block
title_full Enhancement in the electrical efficiency of a photovoltaic thermal system through ternary nanofluids application: Nanomaterial shape effects and phase change material encased in a rectangular block
title_fullStr Enhancement in the electrical efficiency of a photovoltaic thermal system through ternary nanofluids application: Nanomaterial shape effects and phase change material encased in a rectangular block
title_full_unstemmed Enhancement in the electrical efficiency of a photovoltaic thermal system through ternary nanofluids application: Nanomaterial shape effects and phase change material encased in a rectangular block
title_short Enhancement in the electrical efficiency of a photovoltaic thermal system through ternary nanofluids application: Nanomaterial shape effects and phase change material encased in a rectangular block
title_sort enhancement in the electrical efficiency of a photovoltaic thermal system through ternary nanofluids application nanomaterial shape effects and phase change material encased in a rectangular block
topic Phase Change Materia
Blade-Shaped
Nanoparticles
Photovoltaic Thermal System
Electrical Efficiency
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215098624003057
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AT alirashashralzahrani enhancementintheelectricalefficiencyofaphotovoltaicthermalsystemthroughternarynanofluidsapplicationnanomaterialshapeeffectsandphasechangematerialencasedinarectangularblock