Impact of hybrid nano PCM (paraffin wax with Al2O3 and ZnO nanoparticles) on photovoltaic thermal system: Energy, exergy, exergoeconomic and enviroeconomic analysis
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Journal of Cleaner Production
Volume
436
Publisher
Elsevier
School
School of Engineering
Abstract
Global renewable energy efforts place a significant preference on substantial solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems are the upgraded version of PV modules that concurrently produce both electricity and heat. Hybrid nano-particles (2.0 wt % ZnO and 2.0 wt % Al2O3) into the phase change material (PCM) known as HNPCM system has been introduced in this current study for enhancing the electrical and thermal performance of the PVT system by improving the thermophysical properties of paraffin wax as used for passive cooling. Three PV systems were compared in terms of performance: a conventional PV system, a PVT system using paraffin wax as a PCM (PVT/PCM), and a PVT system with 2.0 wt % of Al2O3 and ZnO in PCM (PVT/HNPCM). Upon investigation, the PVT/HNPCM system under outdoor environmental condition shows that the inclusion of different nanoparticles in PCM led to improvements in thermal and overall efficiency of 17.32 % and 13.82 % compared to PVT/PCM, respectively. This results in increase of electrical efficiency of 34.84 % when compared to conventional PV panel and incremental peak exergy efficiency of 36.47 %. Besides, for PVT/HNPCM, cost of electricity production ($/kWh) is almost 16.67 % less than the conventional PV configuration and the payback time is about 2.1 years on the overall exergy basis. Additionally, PVT/HNPCM system exhibits the long-term life cycle conversion efficiency compared to conventional PV panel and maximum sustainability index of 1.21 has been also found. Finally, the conclusion can be drawn positively for PVT/HNPCM as the most effective system from the exergy efficiency, exergy cost, and CO2 avoidance rates point of view.
DOI
10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.140577
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Comments
Kibria, M. G., Mohtasim, M. S., Paul, U. K., Das, B. K., & Saidur, R. (2024). Impact of hybrid nano PCM (paraffin wax with Al2O3 and ZnO nanoparticles) on photovoltaic thermal system: Energy, exergy, exergoeconomic and enviroeconomic analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 436, article 140577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.140577