7E and sustainability analysis of photovoltaic thermal system (PVT) incorporating graphene and Al2O3 nano-particles with paraffin wax integrated fin arrangements
Md. Shahriar Mohtasim, Utpol K. Paul, Md. Golam Kibria, Barun K. Das
Abstract
The efficiency and electricity production of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system are significantly influenced by the temperature of the PV module. Numerous studies have incorporated nanomaterials into phase change materials (PCM) integrated with PV systems to enhance thermodynamic performance; however, life-cycle aspects and the 7E sustainability indicators remain largely unaddressed. No study has yet explored paraffin wax hybridized with Al 2 O 3 and graphene nanomaterials in specific ratios within a photovoltaic thermal (PVT) and fin system at an optimal fluid flow rate. Three different scenarios have been explored in this study, including a PVT/PCM system with a water-flowing fluid, a PVT/Fin arrangements/hybrid nano-PCM (3.0 wt % graphene and 1.0 wt % Al 2 O 3 with paraffin wax) (PVT/Fin/HNPCM) system maintaining a steady water flow rate of 0.0083 kg/s for passive cooling and a conventional PV panel. The effectiveness of all three PV configurations using 7E (Energy, Exergy, Economic, Environmental, Energo-economic, Exergo-economic, Enviro-economic) and sustainability analyses has also been conducted. The HNPCM sample exhibited an improvement in thermal conductivity of about 480 % compared to pure PCM. The highest electrical and thermal energy efficiency of PVT/Fin/HNPCM is attained at about 15.40 % and 76.50 %, respectively. The cost for generating electricity for PVT/Fin/HNPCM has been 0.0149 $/kWh, compared to 0.0168 $/kWh for the PV, with a 23.18 % higher life-cycle conversion efficiency. PVT/Fin/HNPCM is the most sustainable system in the present investigation, having a high sustainable index of 1.022. • 7E and sustainability of PVT system using graphene + Al 2 O 3 based PCM, and fins are examined. • Hybrid nano-PCM offers improvement in thermal conductivity of 480 % than pure PCM. • Electrical and thermal efficiencies of PVT system are 15.40 % and 76.50 %, respectively achieved. • Energetic, exergetic, and sustainable benefits can be attained using hybrid nano-PCM.