Performance enhancement of concentrated photovoltaic systems using a microchannel heat sink with nanofluids

A new cooling technique for low concentrated photovoltaic–thermal (LCPV/T) systems is developed using a microchannel heat sink with nanofluids. In this study, Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3)–water and Silicon Carbide (SiC)–water nanofluids with different volume fractions are used as cooling mediums. The influence of cooling mass flow rate and nanoparticles volume fractions on the performance of LCPV/T system is investigated at different values of concentration ratio. A comprehensive model is developed which includes a thermal model for the photovoltaic layers, coupled with thermo-fluid dynamics of two-phase flow model of the microchannel heat sink. The model is numerically simulated to estimate the performance parameters such as the solar cell temperature and the electrical and thermal efficiency. Results indicate that a significant reduction in solar cell temperature is attained particularly at the high concentration ratio by using nanofluids compared to using water. Using SiC–water nanofluid achieves a relatively higher reduction in cell temperature than Al2O3–water nanofluid. By increasing the volume fraction of nanoparticles, both SiC–water and Al2O3–water nanofluids accomplish a major reduction of cell temperature. As a result, the use of nanofluids achieves higher solar cell electrical efficiency, particularly at lower Reynolds number (Re) and higher concentration ratio, than the use of water. The influence of nanofluids on thermal efficiency varies according to the concentration ratio. Furthermore, friction power increases with the increase in both Reynolds number and nanoparticle volume fraction. By increasing the volume fraction of the nanoparticle, the net electrical power increases at high concentration ratio while the thermal power decreases. The results of this study indicate that the use of nanofluids is effective cooling technique, particularly at high solar concentration ratios where the solar cell temperature reduces to 38°C, and electrical efficiency improves up to 19%.