Plenary Lecture

The Effect of Using Nanofluids in Photovoltaic Thermal Collector with Square Absorber Tubes

Professor Kamaruzzaman Sopian
Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI)
Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia
Email: k_sopian@yahoo.com

Abstract: Photovoltaic and thermal collectors are combined vasa photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) collector system to increase collector efficiency. The efficiency of photovoltaic collectors is known to decrease when ambient temperature increases and vice versa. PV/T collector systems function by absorbing the heat gained from the sun via photovoltaic panels and by converting this heat into electrical energy. Simulations have been investigated to explore the impact of different mass flow rates against photovoltaic and thermal efficiencies of PVT collector using FVM. Different diameter of square tube design have been modeled and investigated to determine the optimum diameter. In this simulation, the absorber collectors were assumed to be attached underneath the photovoltaic (PV) module, and base fluid (water and nanofluids) were used as a heat transfer medium in absorber collectors. Results show that the electrical PVT efficiency enhanced using the optimum Sq20mm design and water as base fluid. During the nanofluid test to see the performance of system using nanofluid, it is found that using Sq20mm-SiC nanofluid reached the optimum Tpm 47 oC near to NOCT and generates electrical PVT efficiency of 13.19%.

Brief Biography of the Speaker: Prof. Dr. Kamaruzzaman Bin Sopian obtained his BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1985, MSc in Energy Resources from the University of Pittsburgh in 1989 and PhD. in Mechanical Engineering from the Dorgan Solar Laboratory, University of Miami in 1997. He is presently the Professor in Renewable Energy at the Department of Mechanical and Material Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Currently, he is the Director of the Solar Energy Research Institute, a center of excellence for the research and development in solar energy technology. He has been involved in the field of solar energy for more than twenty years. His main contributions are in solar radiation modeling, alternative material for solar absorber, solar water heating system with integrated storage system, solar desalination, solar cooling, daylighting using solar light pipes, solar assisted drying systems, grid-connected photovoltaic system, thin film silicon solar cells, combined photovoltaic thermal or hybrid collector and solar hydrogen production system. He has published over 400 research papers in journals and conferences. He has delivered keynotes speeches at national and international conferences on renewable energy. He is the founding member of the Malaysian Institute of Energy, member of the World Renewable Energy Network based in the United Kingdom and is an associate editor of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews published by Elsevier Ltd. He heads several national subcommittees on renewable energy by the Malaysian government to promote awareness, market enhancement, policy studies and the applications renewable energy.

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