Investigation of the Thermal Performance of Water and Aluminum Oxide Nanofluid as a Coolant for Solar Panels

Authors

  • Ahmad Fawwaz Irsyaad Ahmad Farhan College of Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram – Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Nur Atiqah Mohamad Aziz Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram – Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Hassan Mohamed College of Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram – Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Bidattul Syirat Zainal Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram – Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Hazlina Junoh Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram – Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37934/arfmts.106.2.87102

Keywords:

PV panel, nanofluid coolant, CFD simulation, Ansys simulation, cooling system, solar energy, energy

Abstract

A solar panel, also known as a photovoltaic (PV) panel, converts photons from sunlight into usable energy. However, panel warming during the day limits voltage production and results in energy-electricity waste. The efficiency of this PV panel's cooling system utilizing water and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanofluid was simulated and assessed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This research examines the thermal performance of temperature differences between uncooled, water-cooled, and Al2O3 nanofluid-cooled solar panels. To find the lowest temperature of the solar panel achieved, the mass flow rates of coolants (16.5, 33, 66, and 99 L/h) and inlet coolant temperatures (20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 °C) were varied. Al2O3 nanofluid-cooled solar panels at the maximum flow rate and the lowest inlet coolant temperature, 99 L/h and 20℃, respectively, promised the minimum solar panel temperature, which is critical for energy storage. Furthermore, the use of nanofluid coolant assisted in the reduction of 41 to 60% of solar panel temperature. These results shed insight into the capabilities of nanofluid in the coolant system.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Ahmad Fawwaz Irsyaad Ahmad Farhan, College of Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram – Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

pc96464@student.uniten.edu.my

Nur Atiqah Mohamad Aziz, Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram – Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

atiqah.aziz@uniten.edu.my

Hassan Mohamed, College of Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram – Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

MHassan@uniten.edu.my

Bidattul Syirat Zainal, Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram – Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

biddatul@uniten.edu.my

Hazlina Junoh, Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram – Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

hazlina@uniten.edu.my

Downloads

Published

2023-07-18

How to Cite

Ahmad Farhan, A. F. I. ., Mohamad Aziz, N. A., Mohamed, H., Zainal, B. S., & Junoh, H. (2023). Investigation of the Thermal Performance of Water and Aluminum Oxide Nanofluid as a Coolant for Solar Panels. Journal of Advanced Research in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences, 106(2), 87–102. https://doi.org/10.37934/arfmts.106.2.87102

Issue

Section

Articles