Technological Limit of Solar Concentration Technique Applied to Hybrid Photovoltaic-Thermal Solar Collector Equipped With Thermoelectric Generator Incorporating Ternary Nanofluid

Abstract This paper aims to explore the technological limits of the synergy between the solar concentration technique, facilitated by a parabolic concentrator, and the thermoelectric effect induced by a thermoelectric generator within a hybrid photovoltaic-thermal collector, incorporating a ternary nanofluid Cu–Al2O3-MWCNT (multiwalled carbon nanotubes)/water. Each system component is subject to energy balance equations, and the Runge–Kutta fourth-order method is employed to solve the resultant mathematical model. The effects of the concentration ratio (CR), the mass flowrate ṁ, and the type of heat transfer fluid on the system's performance are scrutinized. The simulations are carried out under the meteorological conditions of Ain Salah City in southern Algeria for a moderate wind velocity. The results show better performance when operating ternary nanofluid than other heat transfer fluids. Moreover, the outcomes indicate that by using a 2% volume fraction of nanoparticles of ternary nanofluid, the thermal output, electrical yield, and thermoelectric production reach enhancements of 14.5%, 11.2%, and 22.6%, respectively. Incorporating the solar concentrator resulted in a 3.54 and 5.88 times increase in electrical and thermal powers, respectively. With the growths in ṁ, the temperature of the photovoltaic panel decreases by 53 °C, and the electrical efficiency improves by 34.5%. Correlations encompassing the concentration ratio and mass flowrate for various types of heat transfer fluids are established to predict the technological limits of solar concentration technique in photovoltaic-thermal-thermoelectric generator collectors under the meteorological conditions specific to Ain Salah.