Investigation of nanofluid cooling influence on energy performance of photovoltaic-thermoelectric module

The finned heat sink was equipped with a confined jet to create an effective way for cooling of photovoltaic (PV) system in current work. In the bottom of PV layers, a thermoelectric generator (TEG) has been utilized to produce more electrical power. To create a temperature difference, the heat sink has been located in the bottom of TEG. The fluid is mixture of water with hybrid nanomaterial (TiO 2 –CuO). For simulating, finite volume approach has been chosen and code has been verified based on previous publication. Influences of inlet velocity ( V in ), radiation intensity (“ I ”) and inlet temperature ( T in ) on electrical ( η PV ) and thermal ( η th ) efficiencies have been scrutinized. With increase in “ I ”, the values of η PV and η th reduces about 5.94% and 14.3% while the amount of η TEG for “ I ” = 4200 W m −2 is 3.47 times greater than that of “ I ” = 1200 W m −2 . Greater value of T in leads to lower values of η TEG , η PV and η th around 28.2%, 2.5% and 13.72%. The amount of η th and η TEG intensifies about 1.13% and 2.76% with rise of V in , respectively. Also, the increment effect of V in on η PV reduces around 24.8% in the existence of fins.