Impact of the Magnetic Field on the Performance of Heat Pipes Driven by a Photovoltaic–Thermal Panel with Nanofluids

Abstract

A two-dimensional dynamic heat transfer and fluid flow model was developed to describe the behavior of photovoltaic cells and the performance of a hybrid solar collector photovoltaic–thermal solar panel system. The system was assessed under different magnetic field Gauss forces. Nanofluids were used to drive the heat pipes in a thermal panel under different conditions, such as levels of solar irradiance and different boundary conditions. The model was developed based on the equations of the dynamic conservation of mass and energy, coupled with the heat transfer relationships and thermodynamic properties, in addition to the material properties under different magnetic Gauss forces. Comparisons were made with the literature data to validate the predictive model. The model reliably predicted the key parameters under different nanofluid conditions and magnetic fields, and compared well with the existing data on the subject.