Enhancing solar panel efficiency using magnetic forces and a thermoelectric module

The efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) panels is significantly affected by overheating and dust accumulation, reducing both electrical output and longevity. To solve this issue, current article suggests an advanced cooling approach using ferrofluid in an elliptical duct, enhanced by the Lorentz force. Additionally, a thermoelectric generator (TEG) is integrated to optimize energy recovery from the thermal gradient. A numerical simulation is conducted to analyze the effects of ferrofluid cooling, magnetic field intensity (Hartmann number, Ha), and inlet velocity (V in ) on system performance. The results reveal that increasing Ha improves isotherm uniformity by 8.35% at Vin = 0.16 m/s, while simultaneously enhancing electrical performance (η e ) by 1.41% and thermal performance (η th ) by 6.29%. Further, increasing V in enhances uniformity by 16.58% and 23% at Ha = 0 and Ha = 66, respectively, leading to a 7.79% rise in η th and a 1.52% increase in η e at the lowest Ha. These findings demonstrate that combining ferrofluid cooling and the Lorentz force significantly improves PV performance, providing a promising pathway for developing high-efficiency and sustainable solar energy systems.