Open Access

ARTICLE

A Novel Integrated Photovoltaic System with a Three-Dimensional Pulsating Heat Pipe

Mahyar Kargaran^*, Hamid Reza Goshayeshi, Ali Reza Alizadeh Jajarm
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, 9187147578, Iran
* Corresponding Author: Mahyar Kargaran. Email:
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Multiscale Heat and Mass Transfer and Energy Conversion)

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer https://doi.org/10.32604/fhmt.2024.056284

Received 19 July 2024; Accepted 14 August 2024; Published online 19 September 2024

Abstract

Solar energy is a valuable renewable energy source, and photovoltaic (PV) systems are a practical approach to harnessing this energy. Nevertheless, low energy efficiency is considered a major setback of the system. Moreover, high cell temperature and reflection of solar irradiance from the panel are considered chief culprits in this regard. Employing pulsating heat pipes (PHPs) is an innovative and useful approach to improving solar panel performance. This study presents the results of the power performance of a PV panel attached to a newly designed spiral pulsating heat pipe, while graphene oxide nanofluid with three different concentrations was used as a working fluid to maximize the efficacy of the solar panel. The study proved that the cooling method delivered high efficiency by reducing the temperature, especially in the middle of the day. Using nanofluid graphene oxide at concentrations of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 gr/lit as the working fluid can reduce the thermal resistance of PHPs by over 30%, 24%, and 15%, respectively. This, in turn, enhances the system’s electrical power output by approximately 9%, 7%, and 6%, respectively.

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Keywords

Solar panel; nanofluid; pulsating heat pipe; heat transfer; electrical efficiency

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