IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i6p5424-d1101368.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Photovoltaic Thermal Management by Combined Utilization of Thermoelectric Generator and Power-Law-Nanofluid-Assisted Cooling Channel

Author

Listed:
  • Fatih Selimefendigil

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Celal Bayar University, TR-45140 Manisa, Turkey)

  • Damla Okulu

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Celal Bayar University, TR-45140 Manisa, Turkey)

  • Hakan F. Öztop

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technology Faculty, Fırat University, TR-23119 Elazığ, Turkey
    Department of Medical Research, China Med. University Hospital, China Med. University, Taichung 404, Taiwan)

Abstract

In this study, two different cooling systems for the thermal management of a photovoltaic (PV) module were developed. A PV/thermoelectric generator (TEG) and PV/TEG-mini-channel cooling systems were considered; in the later system, water and water-based A l 2 O 3 nanofluids were used in the cooling channel. The effective cooling of the PV module was achieved by using higher-loading nanoparticles in the base fluid, while the nanofluid exhibited a non-Newtonian behavior. The PV/TEG with a cooling channel system was numerically assessed with respect to various values of Reynolds numbers (between 5 and 250), inlet nanofluid temperatures (between 288.15 K and 303.15 K), and nanoparticle volume fractions in the base fluid (between 1% and 5%). Variations in average cell temperature, PV power, TEG power, and efficiencies were computed by varying the pertinent parameters of interest with Galerkin’s weighted residual finite element method. The most favorable case for cooling was obtained with TEG-cooling channel at φ = 5% and Re = 250. In this case, PV electrical power increased by about 8.1% and 49.2% compared to the PV/TEG and PV system without cooling, respectively. The TEG output power almost doubled when compared to the PV/TEG system for all channel models at Re = 250. The inlet temperature of the nanofluid has a profound impact on the overall efficiency and power increment of the PV module. The use of the PV/TEG-cooling channel with the lowest fluid inlet temperature (288.15 K) and nanofluid at the highest particle loading ( φ = 5%) resulted in a PV efficiency increment of about 52% and 10% compared to the conventional PV system without cooling and the PV/TEG system. In this case, the TEG efficiency rises by about 51% in the PV/TEG nanofluid model compared to the PV/TEG model.

Suggested Citation

  • Fatih Selimefendigil & Damla Okulu & Hakan F. Öztop, 2023. "Photovoltaic Thermal Management by Combined Utilization of Thermoelectric Generator and Power-Law-Nanofluid-Assisted Cooling Channel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-29, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:6:p:5424-:d:1101368
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/6/5424/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/6/5424/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Garud, Kunal Sandip & Lee, Moo-Yeon, 2022. "Thermodynamic, environmental and economic analyses of photovoltaic/thermal-thermoelectric generator system using single and hybrid particle nanofluids," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    2. Mohammadpour, Javad & Salehi, Fatemeh & Sheikholeslami, Mohsen & Lee, Ann, 2022. "A computational study on nanofluid impingement jets in thermal management of photovoltaic panel," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 970-982.
    3. Selimefendigil, Fatih & Öztop, Hakan F., 2021. "Thermoelectric generation in bifurcating channels and efficient modeling by using hybrid CFD and artificial neural networks," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 582-598.
    4. Burmistrov, Igor & Gorshkov, Nikolay & Kovyneva, Natalya & Kolesnikov, Evgeny & Khaidarov, Bekzod & Karunakaran, Gopalu & Cho, Eun-Bum & Kiselev, Nikolay & Artyukhov, Denis & Kuznetsov, Denis & Gorokh, 2020. "High seebeck coefficient thermo-electrochemical cell using nickel hollow microspheres electrodes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 1-8.
    5. Gao, Yuanzhi & Chen, Bo & Wu, Dongxu & Dai, Zhaofeng & Wang, Changling & Zhang, Xiaosong, 2022. "Comparative study of various solar power generation systems integrated with nanofluid-flat heat pipe," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 327(C).
    6. Su, Yan & Sui, Pengxiang & Davidson, Jane H., 2022. "A sub-continuous lattice Boltzmann simulation for nanofluid cooling of concentrated photovoltaic thermal receivers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 712-726.
    7. Zhou, Yuekuan, 2022. "Demand response flexibility with synergies on passive PCM walls, BIPVs, and active air-conditioning system in a subtropical climate," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 204-225.
    8. Oliveira, Michele Cândida Carvalho de & Diniz Cardoso, Antônia Sonia Alves & Viana, Marcelo Machado & Lins, Vanessa de Freitas Cunha, 2018. "The causes and effects of degradation of encapsulant ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) in crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 2299-2317.
    9. Selimefendigil, Fatih & Öztop, Hakan F., 2020. "Identification of pulsating flow effects with CNT nanoparticles on the performance enhancements of thermoelectric generator (TEG) module in renewable energy applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1076-1086.
    10. Li, Boyu & Hong, Wenpeng & Li, Haoran & Lan, Jingrui & Zi, Junliang, 2022. "Optimized energy distribution management in the nanofluid-assisted photovoltaic/thermal system via exergy efficiency analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    11. Wu, Jinshun & Zhang, Xingxing & Shen, Jingchun & Wu, Yupeng & Connelly, Karen & Yang, Tong & Tang, Llewellyn & Xiao, Manxuan & Wei, Yixuan & Jiang, Ke & Chen, Chao & Xu, Peng & Wang, Hong, 2017. "A review of thermal absorbers and their integration methods for the combined solar photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) modules," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 839-854.
    12. Selimefendigil, Fatih & Bayrak, Fatih & Oztop, Hakan F., 2018. "Experimental analysis and dynamic modeling of a photovoltaic module with porous fins," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 193-205.
    13. Selimefendigil, Fatih & Öztop, Hakan F., 2020. "The potential benefits of surface corrugation and hybrid nanofluids in channel flow on the performance enhancement of a thermo-electric module in energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    14. Shittu, Samson & Li, Guiqiang & Tang, Xin & Zhao, Xudong & Ma, Xiaoli & Badiei, Ali, 2020. "Analysis of thermoelectric geometry in a concentrated photovoltaic-thermoelectric under varying weather conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    15. Negash, Assmelash A. & Choi, Young & Kim, Tae Young, 2021. "Experimental investigation of optimal location of flow straightener from the aspects of power output and pressure drop characteristics of a thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    16. Ji, Yaping & Artzt, Luke E. & Adams, Will & Spitler, Christopher & Islam, Kazi & Codd, Daniel & Escarra, Matthew D., 2021. "A transmissive concentrator photovoltaic module with cells directly cooled by silicone oil for solar cogeneration systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    17. Han, Zhonghe & Liu, Kaixin & Li, Guiqiang & Zhao, Xudong & Shittu, Samson, 2021. "Electrical and thermal performance comparison between PVT-ST and PV-ST systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    18. Wang, Xuejian & Qi, Ji & Deng, Wei & Li, Gongping & Gao, Xudong & He, Luanxuan & Zhang, Shixu, 2021. "An optimized design approach concerning thermoelectric generators with frustum-shaped legs based on three-dimensional multiphysics model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    19. Khalid, Maria & Shanks, Katie & Ghosh, Aritra & Tahir, Asif & Sundaram, Senthilarasu & Mallick, Tapas Kumar, 2021. "Temperature regulation of concentrating photovoltaic window using argon gas and polymer dispersed liquid crystal films," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 96-108.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ali Ait Ali & Youssef Ouhassan & Mohcine Abouyaakoub & Mbarek Chahboun & Hicham Hihi, 2024. "The Impact of Desert Regions on Solar Energy Production with the Evaluation of Groundwater for Maintenance: A Case Study in Morocco," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-16, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wen, Xin & Ji, Jie & Li, Zhaomeng, 2023. "Evaluation of the phase change material in regulating all-day electrical performance in the PV-MCHP-TE system in winter," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PC).
    2. Tae Young Kim, 2021. "Prediction of System-Level Energy Harvesting Characteristics of a Thermoelectric Generator Operating in a Diesel Engine Using Artificial Neural Networks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-14, April.
    3. Ji, Jiahong & Gao, Yuanzhi & Zhang, Xiaosong, 2024. "Performance evaluation of photovoltaic-phase change material-thermoelectric system through parametric study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    4. Nidhal Ben Khedher & Fatih Selimefendigil & Lioua Kolsi & Walid Aich & Lotfi Ben Said & Ismail Boukholda, 2022. "Performance Optimization of a Thermoelectric Device by Using a Shear Thinning Nanofluid and Rotating Cylinder in a Cavity with Ventilation Ports," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-20, March.
    5. Wen, Xin & Ji, Jie & Li, Zhaomeng & Yao, Tingting, 2023. "Proposing of a novel PV/T module in series with a ST+TE module to pursue a round-the-clock continuous energy output," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    6. Wen, Xin & Ji, Jie & Li, Zhaomeng & Song, Zhiying & Yao, Tingting, 2023. "Performance characterization of a PV/T system employing micro-channel heat pipes and thermoelectric generators: An experimental and numerical study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    7. Wang, Wei-Wei & Yang, Hong-Fei & Zhang, Hong-Liang & Xu, Tian-You & Zhao, Fu-Yun & Wu, Shi-Jing, 2023. "Pulsating heat pipe and thermo-electric generator jointly applied in renewable energy exploitation: Analytical and experimental investigations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    8. Nadka Tz. Dintcheva & Elisabetta Morici & Claudio Colletti, 2023. "Encapsulant Materials and Their Adoption in Photovoltaic Modules: A Brief Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-13, June.
    9. Kazemian, Arash & Khatibi, Meysam & Ma, Tao & Peng, Jinqing & Hongxing, Yang, 2023. "A thermal performance-enhancing strategy of photovoltaic thermal systems by applying surface area partially covered by solar cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    10. Selimefendigil, Fatih & Öztop, Hakan F., 2020. "Identification of pulsating flow effects with CNT nanoparticles on the performance enhancements of thermoelectric generator (TEG) module in renewable energy applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1076-1086.
    11. Assoa, Y.B. & Levrard, D., 2020. "A lightweight triangular building integrated photovoltaic module," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    12. Yan, Peiliang & Fan, Weijun & Han, Yu & Ding, Hongbing & Wen, Chuang & Elbarghthi, Anas F.A. & Yang, Yan, 2023. "Leaf-vein bionic fin configurations for enhanced thermal energy storage performance of phase change materials in smart heating and cooling systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 346(C).
    13. Liao, Qijun & Li, Shaoyuan & Xi, Fengshuo & Tong, Zhongqiu & Chen, Xiuhua & Wan, Xiaohan & Ma, Wenhui & Deng, Rong, 2023. "High-performance silicon carbon anodes based on value-added recycling strategy of end-of-life photovoltaic modules," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    14. Al-Amri, Fahad & Saeed, Farooq & Mujeebu, Muhammad Abdul, 2022. "Novel dual-function racking structure for passive cooling of solar PV panels –thermal performance analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 100-113.
    15. Igor Burmistrov & Rita Khanna & Nikolay Gorshkov & Nikolay Kiselev & Denis Artyukhov & Elena Boychenko & Andrey Yudin & Yuri Konyukhov & Maksim Kravchenko & Alexander Gorokhovsky & Denis Kuznetsov, 2022. "Advances in Thermo-Electrochemical (TEC) Cell Performances for Harvesting Low-Grade Heat Energy: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, August.
    16. Basalike, Pie & Peng, Wang & Zhang, Jili, 2022. "Numerical study on the performance of photovoltaic thermal unit condenser with water/nanofluids as fluids medium," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 606-616.
    17. Li, Jinpeng & Chen, Xiangjie & Li, Guiqiang, 2023. "Effect of separation wavelength on a novel solar-driven hybrid hydrogen production system (SDHPS) by solar full spectrum energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    18. Huang, Bin & Shen, Zu-Guo, 2022. "Performance assessment of annular thermoelectric generators for automobile exhaust waste heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    19. Alexandros Vouros & Emmanouil Mathioulakis & Elias Papanicolaou & Vassilis Belessiotis, 2023. "Computational Modeling of a Small-Scale, Solar Concentrating Device Based on a Fresnel-Lens Collector and a Flat Plate Receiver with Cylindrical Channels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-21, January.
    20. Chen, Lingen & Lorenzini, Giulio, 2023. "Heating load, COP and exergetic efficiency optimizations for TEG-TEH combined thermoelectric device with Thomson effect and external heat transfer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:6:p:5424-:d:1101368. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.