A Simulation Study on Temperature Uniformity of Photovoltaic Thermal Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

Authors

  • Mohd Afzanizam Mohd Rosli Fakulti Kejuruteraan Mekanikal, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia
  • Irfan Alias Farhan Latif Fakulti Kejuruteraan Mekanikal, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia
  • Muhammad Zaid Nawam Fakulti Kejuruteraan Mekanikal, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia
  • Mohd Noor Asril Saadun Fakulti Kejuruteraan Mekanikal, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia
  • Hasila Jarimi Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Mohd Khairul Anuar Sharif Jabatan Kerja Raya, Jalan Sultan Salahuddin, 50582 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Sulaiman Ali Universitas Teuku Umar, Jl. Alue Peunyareng, Ujong Tanoh Darat, Meureubo, Kabupaten Aceh Barat, Aceh 23681, Indonesia

Keywords:

Photovoltaic Thermal, Temperature Distribution, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Simulation

Abstract

The temperature distribution across the photovoltaic (PV) module in most cases is not uniform, leading to regions of hotspots. The cells in these regions perform less efficiently, leading to an overall lower PV module efficiency. They can also be permanently damaged due to high thermal stresses. To enable the high-efficiency operation and a longer lifetime of the PV module, the temperatures must not fluctuate wildly across the PV module. In this study, a custom absorber is designed based on literature to provide a more even temperature distribution across the PV module. This design is two standard sets of spiral absorbers connected. This design is relatively less complicated for this reason and it allows room for adjusting the pipe spacing without much complication. The absorber design is tested via computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation using ANSYS Fluent 19.2, and the simulation model is validated by an experimental study with the highest percentage error of 9.44%. The custom and the serpentine absorber utilized in the experiment are simulated under the same operating conditions having water as the working fluid. The custom absorber design is found to have a more uniform temperature distribution on more areas of the PV module as compared to the absorber design utilized in the experiment, which leads to a lower average surface temperature of the PV module. This results in an increase in thermal and electrical efficiency of the PV module by 3.21% and 0.65%, respectively.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2024-03-28

How to Cite

Mohd Afzanizam Mohd Rosli, Irfan Alias Farhan Latif, Muhammad Zaid Nawam, Mohd Noor Asril Saadun, Hasila Jarimi, Mohd Khairul Anuar Sharif, & Sulaiman Ali. (2024). A Simulation Study on Temperature Uniformity of Photovoltaic Thermal Using Computational Fluid Dynamics. Journal of Advanced Research in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences, 82(1), 21–38. Retrieved from https://semarakilmu.com.my/journals/index.php/fluid_mechanics_thermal_sciences/article/view/7703

Issue

Section

Articles

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>