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Effects of Varying Volume Fractions of SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 on the Performance of Concentrated Photovoltaic System

Author

Listed:
  • Muhammad Asim

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore 54890, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Hanzla Tahir

    (Department of Energy System Engineering, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan)

  • Ammara Kanwal

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore 54890, Pakistan)

  • Fahid Riaz

    (Mechanical Engineering Department, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 59911, United Arab Emirates)

  • Muhammad Amjad

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore (New Campus), Lahore 54890, Pakistan
    Chair of Thermodynamics, School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany)

  • Aamna Khalid

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore 54890, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Mujtaba Abbas

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore (New Campus), Lahore 54890, Pakistan)

  • Ashfaq Ahmad

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore 54890, Pakistan)

  • Mohammad Abul Kalam

    (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, FEIT, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia)

Abstract

Highly concentrated triple-junction solar cells (HCTJSCs) are cells that have diverse applications for power generation. Their electrical efficiency is almost 45%, which may be increased to 50% by the end of the year 2030. Despite their overwhelming ability to generate power, their efficiency is lower when utilized in a concentrated manner, which introduces a high-temperature surge, leading to a sudden drop in output power. In this study, the efficiency of a 10 mm × 10 mm multijunction solar cell (MJSC) was increased to almost 42% under the climatic conditions in Lahore, Pakistan. Active cooling was selected, where SiO 2 –water- and Al 2 O 3 –water-based nanofluids with varying volume fractions, ranging from 5% to 15% by volume, were used with a 0.001 kg/s mass flow rate. In addition, two- and three-layer microchannel heat sinks (MCHSs) with squared microchannels were designed to perform thermal management. Regarding the concentration ratio, 1500 suns were considered for 15 August at noon, with 805 W/m 2 and 110 W/m 2 direct and indirect radiation, respectively. A complete model including a triple-junction solar cell and allied assemblies was modeled in Solidworks software, followed by temperature profile generation in steady-state thermal analyses (SSTA). Thereafter, a coupling of SSTA and Ansys Fluent was made, in combination with the thermal management of the entire model, where the temperature of the TJSC was found to be 991 °C without active cooling, resulting in a decrease in electrical output. At 0.001 kg/s, the optimum average surface temperature (44.5 °C), electrical efficiency (41.97%), and temperature uniformity (16.47 °C) were achieved in the of MJSC with SiO 2 –water nanofluid with three layers of MCHS at a 15% volume fraction. Furthermore, the average outlet temperature of the Al 2 O 3 –water nanofluid at all volume fractions was high, between 29.53 °C and 31.83 °C, using the two-layer configuration. For the three-layer arrangement, the input and output temperatures of the working fluid were found to be the same at 25 °C.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Asim & Muhammad Hanzla Tahir & Ammara Kanwal & Fahid Riaz & Muhammad Amjad & Aamna Khalid & Muhammad Mujtaba Abbas & Ashfaq Ahmad & Mohammad Abul Kalam, 2023. "Effects of Varying Volume Fractions of SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 on the Performance of Concentrated Photovoltaic System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-22, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:10:p:8125-:d:1148642
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    References listed on IDEAS

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