International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology - IRJIET International Open Access, Monthly, Peer Reviewed, Reputed Journal ISSN (online): 2581-3048

Impact Factor (2025): 6.9

DOI Prefix: 10.47001/IRJIET

Numerical Study of Solar Panel Cooling Using Paraffin-40 Combined with Nanomaterials on Variable Heat Flux

SusantoDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Diponegoro University, Jalan Prof. Soedarto, Tembalang, Semarang 50275, Central Java, IndonesiaNazaruddin SinagaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Diponegoro University, Jalan Prof. Soedarto, Tembalang, Semarang 50275, Central Java, IndonesiaSyaifulDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Diponegoro University, Jalan Prof. Soedarto, Tembalang, Semarang 50275, Central Java, IndonesiaAji DigdoyoDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Diponegoro University, Jalan Prof. Soedarto, Tembalang, Semarang 50275, Central Java, Indonesia

Vol 7 No 11 (2023): Volume 7, Issue 11, November 2023 | Pages: 671-683

International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology

OPEN ACCESS | Research Article | Published Date: 28-11-2023

doi Logo doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2023.711089

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Abstract

Many studies are being conducted to determine the optimal cooling arrangement for solar panels. One of the main issues that persists is the cooling effect used to lower the temperature of PV cells. The issue with natural convection air cooling surrounding solar panels is that it is thought to need to be more efficient in absorbing heat. It is necessary to implement effective and efficient cooling techniques. Phase Change Material (PCM) can be used as a cooling agent; the material should be chosen based on its melting point. The choice of a PCM depends on the climate and the material's thermal properties. PCM will absorb more heat throughout the melting process due to its higher latent heat than other materials. Analyzing PCM applications with nano-material addition was investigated numerically with Ansys Fluent. Pure PCM and a combination of nanomaterials were used in the cooling setup. A novel NPCM blend was made using the nanomaterials SiO2 and Al2O3. The mass fraction of the additional nanomaterial is 1%, 5%, and 10%, respectively. Viscous laminar and transient flow conditions were used as methods for this study. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of paraffin-40 combined with nanomaterials on PV cell temperature lowering. PV cell temperature is reduced to 85.98 oC by applying pure paraffin-40 cooling at a heat flux of 1000 W/m2. When Al2O3 composition is added at 1%, 5%, and 10%, the PV cell temperature decreases to 59.20, 53.46, and 48.06 OC, respectively. PV cells' temperature with the addition of SiO2 at compositions of 60.95, 59.62, and 57.46 oC, respectively. Blended materials with NPCM work well for solar panel passive cooling. A higher mass concentration of nanomaterials added to the composition has a more significant cooling effect. When added as an extra nanomaterial to PCM, Al2O3 performs better at cooling than SiO2.

Keywords

Nanomaterial; Mass Concentration; Phase Change Material; Passive Cooling; PV cell temperature


Citation of this Article

Susanto, Nazaruddin Sinaga, Syaiful, Aji Digdoyo, “Numerical Study of Solar Panel Cooling Using Paraffin-40 Combined with Nanomaterials on Variable Heat Flux” Published in International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology - IRJIET, Volume 7, Issue 11, pp 671-683, November 2023. Article DOI https://doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2023.711089

Licence Copyright (c) 2026 International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology creative common licence This work is licensed under Creative common Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 Internation Licence
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