Hybrid photovoltaic solar system performance enriched by adaptation of silicon carbide made porous medium

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) panels are prospective for sunlight to direct electrical energy using the photovoltaic effect. Overheating of PV panels is influenced to limiting the solar performance, and innovative bifacial panel technique found better heat build-up leads to reduced lifespan and costlier reasons. The present research focuses on limiting the PV panel temperature by the implementation of the porous medium and nanofluid, which also assists in enhancing the thermal efficiency of the solar collector system. The alumina (Al₂O₃) and silicon dioxide (SiO₂) nanoparticles were dispersed within the water with a volume fraction of 0.5% through the ultrasonication method, and the porous medium was made of silicon carbide material. Furthermore, the hybrid of both Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ was introduced to study the effect of combined nanofluids and porous medium in PV panel cooling. Based on experimentation, heat gain, electrical power, total power by PV, thermal efficiency, electrical efficiency, and exergy efficiency were calculated. The peak fluid temperature, heat gain, electrical power, and total power by hybrid nanofluid are about 72.4 °C, 534.2 W, 221.4 W, and 258.6 W, respectively. Furthermore, the average thermal, electrical, and exergy efficiency is about 59.8%, 8.8%, and 7.1% by hybrid nanofluid with porous medium. Hence, the hybrid nanofluid and porous medium integration shows peak PV performance and higher thermal and electrical efficiency than other fluid conditions.