Experimental investigation into efficiency of SiO2/water-based nanofluids in photovoltaic thermal systems using response surface methodology

Photovoltaic thermal systems (PVT) are systems that can convert solar energy into electricity and thermal energy simultaneously. In this study, the effect of nanofluids on the electrical and thermal efficiency of PVTs was investigated using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). In the experimental study presently undertaken, SiO2 nanoparticles were suspended in deionized water, which was used as base fluid in 3 different volumetric ratios (0.1-0.2-0.3). A mathematical model has been developed to calculate the thermal and electrical efficiency of the PVT system using the RSM approach. In the RSM method, the flow rate of the nanofluid, the nanofluid volumetric concentration, and the solar radiation were determined as independent variables, and their effects on the thermal and electrical efficiency of PV/Ts were statistically investigated. The model presently developed was validated based on the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The most influential parameters affecting the electrical and thermal efficiencies have been found as radiation, flow rate and volumetric concentration, respectively. The variance between the mathematical models developed and the experimental results was measured in terms of the coefficient of determination (R-2), which was between 0.85% and 1.91% for the electrical efficiency and between -6.34% and 1.06%. for the thermal efficiency. As a result, the mathematical models developed for the electrical and thermal efficiencies of the PV/T system has been successfully verified based on the experimental outcomes.

Automated summary

This study investigated the impact of nanofluids on the electrical and thermal efficiency of photovoltaic thermal systems (PVT) using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The experimental results showed that the flow rate, nanofluid volumetric concentration, and solar radiation were the most influential parameters affecting the thermal and electrical efficiency. The mathematical models developed based on the experimental outcomes successfully verified the performance of the PVT system in terms of electrical and thermal efficiencies.