Experimental and numerical assessment of water-based photovoltaic/thermal collectors with varied tubular absorber cross-sections
This study aims to develop 3D numerical models utilizing COMSOL software to analyze the heat transfer (HT) behaviour of water-based photovoltaic/thermal (WPV/T) collectors with circular, and elliptical tubular cross-sections with different dimensions to find an optimized and efficient PV/T design. I...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Case Studies in Thermal Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X24016964 |
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| author | Shirin Rostami Adnan Ibrahim Amir Aziat Ishak Ahmad Fazlizan Ahmad Fudholi Kamaruzzaman Sopian Alireza Dehghani-Sanij Amin Shahsavar Khaled M. Al-Aribe |
| author_facet | Shirin Rostami Adnan Ibrahim Amir Aziat Ishak Ahmad Fazlizan Ahmad Fudholi Kamaruzzaman Sopian Alireza Dehghani-Sanij Amin Shahsavar Khaled M. Al-Aribe |
| author_sort | Shirin Rostami |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aims to develop 3D numerical models utilizing COMSOL software to analyze the heat transfer (HT) behaviour of water-based photovoltaic/thermal (WPV/T) collectors with circular, and elliptical tubular cross-sections with different dimensions to find an optimized and efficient PV/T design. Indoor experimental tests were conducted to validate the numerical results. The performance of PV/T was evaluated in terms of governing parameters, including the mass flow rate (m˙), solar irradiance (I), heat gain, maximum power (Pmax), Reynolds number (Re), thermal (ηth) and electrical (ηel) efficiency, the temperature difference between the outlet and inlet water (To-Ti), the average cell temperature, and total efficiency (ηtotal). It was determined that m˙=0.04 kg/s was the optimal water flow rate for the best performance. The results indicate that the PV/T collector with the elliptical cross-section tube with the least hydraulic diameter achieved the maximum total efficiency, both numerically and experimentally, at 76.9 % and 72.94 %, respectively, under turbulent flow conditions with Re=5502.92 and I = 1000 W/m2. ηtotal of the elliptical PV/T collectors is approximately 10 % and 6 % higher than that of circular design, respectively at the optimum flow rate, and I = 1000 W/m2. It is also found that tubes with lower hydraulic diameter values, while maintaining the same tube cross-section perimeter, exhibit higher HT characteristics compared to those with greater hydraulic diameters. The findings from this innovative and comprehensive study indicate an opportunity to enhance the HT properties of the PV/T system by optimizing the cross-sectional design and hydraulic diameter of the absorber tube, ultimately increasing total efficiency. Additionally, the optimized design opens avenues for future research and can be further developed for both industrial and domestic applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a7d02b6488be4849b97ea020e0fd123b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2214-157X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Studies in Thermal Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-a7d02b6488be4849b97ea020e0fd123b2025-01-08T04:52:49ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-01-0165105665Experimental and numerical assessment of water-based photovoltaic/thermal collectors with varied tubular absorber cross-sectionsShirin Rostami0Adnan Ibrahim1Amir Aziat Ishak2Ahmad Fazlizan3Ahmad Fudholi4Kamaruzzaman Sopian5Alireza Dehghani-Sanij6Amin Shahsavar7Khaled M. Al-Aribe8Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi, 43600, Selangor, MalaysiaSolar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi, 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; Corresponding author.School of Engineering, Faculty of Innovation & Technology, Taylor's University Lakeside Campus, Subang Jaya, Selangor, MalaysiaSolar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi, 43600, Selangor, MalaysiaSolar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi, 43600, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), Seri Iskandar, 32610, Perak, MalaysiaWaterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE), University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, CanadaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Kermanshah University of Technology, Kermanshah, IranDepartment of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, 59911, United Arab EmiratesThis study aims to develop 3D numerical models utilizing COMSOL software to analyze the heat transfer (HT) behaviour of water-based photovoltaic/thermal (WPV/T) collectors with circular, and elliptical tubular cross-sections with different dimensions to find an optimized and efficient PV/T design. Indoor experimental tests were conducted to validate the numerical results. The performance of PV/T was evaluated in terms of governing parameters, including the mass flow rate (m˙), solar irradiance (I), heat gain, maximum power (Pmax), Reynolds number (Re), thermal (ηth) and electrical (ηel) efficiency, the temperature difference between the outlet and inlet water (To-Ti), the average cell temperature, and total efficiency (ηtotal). It was determined that m˙=0.04 kg/s was the optimal water flow rate for the best performance. The results indicate that the PV/T collector with the elliptical cross-section tube with the least hydraulic diameter achieved the maximum total efficiency, both numerically and experimentally, at 76.9 % and 72.94 %, respectively, under turbulent flow conditions with Re=5502.92 and I = 1000 W/m2. ηtotal of the elliptical PV/T collectors is approximately 10 % and 6 % higher than that of circular design, respectively at the optimum flow rate, and I = 1000 W/m2. It is also found that tubes with lower hydraulic diameter values, while maintaining the same tube cross-section perimeter, exhibit higher HT characteristics compared to those with greater hydraulic diameters. The findings from this innovative and comprehensive study indicate an opportunity to enhance the HT properties of the PV/T system by optimizing the cross-sectional design and hydraulic diameter of the absorber tube, ultimately increasing total efficiency. Additionally, the optimized design opens avenues for future research and can be further developed for both industrial and domestic applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X24016964PV/T collectorHeat transferHydraulic diameter3D numerical model |
| spellingShingle | Shirin Rostami Adnan Ibrahim Amir Aziat Ishak Ahmad Fazlizan Ahmad Fudholi Kamaruzzaman Sopian Alireza Dehghani-Sanij Amin Shahsavar Khaled M. Al-Aribe Experimental and numerical assessment of water-based photovoltaic/thermal collectors with varied tubular absorber cross-sections Case Studies in Thermal Engineering PV/T collector Heat transfer Hydraulic diameter 3D numerical model |
| title | Experimental and numerical assessment of water-based photovoltaic/thermal collectors with varied tubular absorber cross-sections |
| title_full | Experimental and numerical assessment of water-based photovoltaic/thermal collectors with varied tubular absorber cross-sections |
| title_fullStr | Experimental and numerical assessment of water-based photovoltaic/thermal collectors with varied tubular absorber cross-sections |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental and numerical assessment of water-based photovoltaic/thermal collectors with varied tubular absorber cross-sections |
| title_short | Experimental and numerical assessment of water-based photovoltaic/thermal collectors with varied tubular absorber cross-sections |
| title_sort | experimental and numerical assessment of water based photovoltaic thermal collectors with varied tubular absorber cross sections |
| topic | PV/T collector Heat transfer Hydraulic diameter 3D numerical model |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X24016964 |
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