5E assessments of a novel solar collector under high cooling demand scenarios: Experimental and sustainability studies

Solar collectors encounter low thermal efficiency challenges, particularly in hot climates where managing heat becomes increasingly difficult. This study conducts a comprehensive 5E (energy, exergy, entropy, economic, and environmental) analysis of an innovative solar collector incorporating dimples and petaled patterns on its surfaces, equipped with spiral twisted tapes, and utilizing silicon carbide enhanced phase-changing material in 1 % volume concentration alongside silicon carbide enhanced nanofluid in 0.3 % and 0.6 % volume concentrations. The research conducts an indoor experiment examining the impact of varying flow rates of (0.01–0.085) kg/s, solar irradiance levels (400–1000) W/m2, and seven coolant mediums. Additionally, SimaPro meticulously assesses the economic and environmental feasibility of the studied modules. Key findings indicate that increasing mass flow rates generally enhance all parameters except thermal exergy efficiency. Higher solar irradiance levels improve most parameters, although at 1000 W/m2, electrical and thermal efficiencies decline. Various coolant combinations positively influence all the parameters. Major results show that the design employing nanofluid and nanophase changing material as thermal storage increases electrical and thermal energy efficiency by 32 % and 21.2 %, while total exergy efficiency increases by 35.1 %. The best design is economically desirable by obtaining enhancements of 14.08 % in cost of energy, 16.42 % in levelized cost of exergy, and 17.5 % in energy payback time. Even though it has some minor environmental impact potential, such as a 10.9 % increase in CO2 emission, it mitigates 1.073 more tons of CO2 compared to PV alone.