Simulation of sustainable solar thermal storage system involving photovoltaic panel equipped with nanofluid-based splitter considering self-cleaning coating

In this investigation, an improvement strategy for a photovoltaic (PV) system is examined, incorporating a nanofluid filter and a paraffin-based storage system. The utilization of a spectral filter, employing ZnO-water nanofluid, is intended to optimize the utilization of the entire spectral distribution of sunlight. In all scenarios, a paraffin layer is introduced, comprising RT25 mixed with ZnO nanoparticles. Moreover, the consideration is given to the influence of applying TiO2 nanoparticles for coating the upper glass layer. The investigation utilizes simulations based on the finite volume method and examines four unique scenarios: case 1, characterized by the absence of a filter; case 2, involving the incorporation of a nanofluid filter; case 3, incorporating dusty glass with a filter; and case 4, integrating a self-cleaning effect with a filter. Examining various performance metrics uncovers significant findings. The research showcases a 5.3 % rise in CO2 mitigation (CM) through the integration of a nanofluid filter, a 12 % reduction linked to the influence of dust, and an 11.2 % enhancement facilitated by a self-cleaning method. The presence of dust initially contributes to a decrease in outlet temperature of the filter (Tout), but eventually, it exhibits a 66.79 % improvement with the adoption of the self-cleaning method. The application of a coating on the glass layer leads to an 11.2 % boost in electrical performance (eta el). Utilizing filter results in a decrease of 19.08 % in temperature of paraffin (TPCM) and 8.54 % in liquid fraction (LF), while concurrently enhancing eta el by 5.03 % at t = 80 min. Three cities have been analyzed in terms of profit after 12 years, with Berlin showing the highest returns. For Berlin, implementing the spectral filter increases the system's profit by approximately 5.34 %, while coating the glass with nanoparticles further boosts it by about 18.12 %.