Simulation of thermoelectric-photovoltaic system integrated with various shapes of cooling ducts filled with nanomaterial

Incorporating thermoelectric (TE) modules into photovoltaic/thermal (PVT) systems can markedly increase energy output by improving the overall efficiency of energy conversion. This research focused on the design and simulation of a PVT system integrated with a TE module, utilizing ANSYS Fluent. The study assessed four different tube cross-sectional shapes—circular, square, elliptical, and triangular—all with the same cross-sectional areas. Moreover, the investigation included the impact of Cu-alumina/H₂O hybrid nanofluid at a 0.024 % volume concentration, fluid inlet velocity (u_i), and solar radiation (G) on PV temperature (T_PV) and the overall productivity. The outputs showed that the triangular configuration considerably reduced T_PV compared to the other shapes. This configuration also generated the highest thermal power, reaching 130.84 W. Additionally, at u_i = 0.19 m/s, the unit's thermal efficiency and overall electrical efficiency increased by 0.93 % and 0.22 %, respectively.