Advanced turbulator geometry for photovoltaico thermal Management: Simulation using Water–SWCNT nanofluid

• Numerical analysis of PV cooling using SWCNT-based water nanofluid is conducted. • Four turbulator designs, including a new conical type, were evaluated for heat transfer. • Conical turbulator with inclined blades increased Nu by 17.11%. • Optimized design improved thermal efficiency by 1.58% and reduced CO 2 by 51.54 tons. This work conducts a numerical analysis of an innovative cooling approach for solar panels, employing a water-based nanofluid enhanced with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as the working medium. To maintain computational efficiency while ensuring accuracy, symmetric boundary conditions were adopted. The photovoltaic (PV) panel was modeled by incorporating multiple solid layers to replicate its real structural composition. Four different cooling configurations were analyzed, each utilizing distinct turbulator geometries—including a newly developed conical turbulator with integrated blades and its inverted version—aimed at intensifying heat transfer inside the cooling channel. The numerical framework was validated through comparison with established experimental and numerical datasets. Results demonstrated that incorporating turbulators markedly enhances the system’s heat removal capacity, thereby lowering the module temperature. Notably, the conical turbulator with inclined blades achieved a 17.11% increase in the Nu and a 241.61% rise in pressure drop compared to the reference case. In addition, the optimized cooling design led to a 1.58% improvement in the thermal efficiency of the PV system and enabled an estimated annual reduction of 51.54 tons in CO 2 emissions. The integration of innovative turbulator geometries with SWCNT-based nanofluids represents a meaningful advancement in PV cooling research and addresses a notable gap in current literature.