Optimisation design and operation parameters of a photovoltaic thermal system integrated with natural zeolite

Abstract

It is aimed to optimise the design and operation parameters of a PVT system integrated with natural zeolite by employing ANSYS workbench program. As the first step, a PVT model was developed by ANSYS and the model was verified by matching the experimental data. Water has been employed as working fluid for PVT system. Outlet water temperature values obtained by experimentally and numerically have been compared. Mass flow rate, thickness of the material, pipe diameter and the pipe material have been assumed as independent variables for the optimisation study. As a result, the highest thermal output was obtained with a flow rate of 13 l/h. The highest thermal output was achieved by copper material with an output of 2.09% more than aluminium. In the analysis made for the pipe diameter, an output of 3.42% in the 8″ pipe compared to the 16″ pipe was obtained.