Performance optimization for solar photovoltaic thermal system with spiral rectangular absorber using Taguchi method

Jitendra Satpute; Srinidhi Campli; Dhinesh Balasubramanian; P V Elumalai; Raju Panchal; Yasser Fouad; Manzoore Elahi M Soudagar; J Laxmi Prasad; Mesay Dejene Altaye

doi:10.1038/s41598-024-73065-9

Performance optimization for solar photovoltaic thermal system with spiral rectangular absorber using Taguchi method

Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 11;14(1):23849. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-73065-9.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Suman Ramesh Tulsiani Technical Campus Kamshet, Pune, 410405, India. [email protected].
² JSPM Rajarshi Shahu College Of Engineering, Pune, India.
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, India. [email protected].
⁴ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aditya University, Surampalem, India.
⁵ Research Fellow, Faculty of Engineering, Shinawatra University, Toei, Thailand.
⁶ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 602105, India.
⁷ Department of Applied Mechanical Engineering, College of Applied Engineering, Muzahimiyah Branch, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Centre of Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura, 140417, Punjab, India.
⁹ Division of Research and Development, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, 144411, Punjab, India.
¹⁰ College of Engineering, Lishui University, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, China.
¹¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, MLR Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
¹² Department of Mechanical Engineering, Wolaita Sodo University, Soddo, Ethiopia. [email protected].

Abstract

Solar collector systems efficiently transform sunlight into energy that may be used to meet various needs. This research aimed to use the Taguchi method to determine the ideal operating parameters for a solar thermal collector with a rectangular spiral absorber. Controllable parameters including mass flow rate, solar radiation, and absorber design were manipulated during the energy recovery process, and features like PV temperature and outlet water temperature were used to assess the system's effectiveness. The findings indicate that certain criteria significantly affect response indicators. The observed percentage contribution of absorber design, solar radiation, and the mass flow rate was 69.19%, 27.99%, and 2.83% in PV surface temperature. In comparison, the individual percentage contributions were 73.63%, 13.51%, and 10.57% for absorber design, solar radiation and mass flow rate for water output temperatures. The present model's R² values for PV and outlet water temperatures are 97.24% and 99.67%, respectively. The Predictive regression model was found in fine harmony and the maximum percentage error is limited to 0.68%. The maximum analytical electrical efficiency was observed with a spiral rectangular absorber of 14.57% at the lowest mass flow rate of 0.04 kg/s at the lowest radiation level of 600 W/m². In comparison, maximum analytical thermal efficiency was observed with a spiral rectangular thermal absorber of 63.56% at the highest flow rate of 0.06 kg/s and the highest solar radiation level of 1000 W/m². The analytical and experiment findings were in better agreement in this study, with the highest relative error of 7.52%. According to the study's findings, the rectangular absorber-based PVT system is at its best at a higher mass flow rate to lower PV temperature and boost thermal energy recovery via water. The present research work can be extended for exergy, environmental, and economic feasibility analysis.

Keywords: Energy efficiency; Optimization; Photovoltaic thermal system; S/N ratio; Spiral rectangular absorber; Thermal energy recovery.