Global Advancement of Nanofluid-Based Sheet and Tube Collectors for a Photovoltaic Thermal System

The photovoltaic thermal (PVT) system was initially developed by attaching a simple sheet and tube thermal collector to the PV panel to improve cell performance while producing heat energy. The collector designs and heat transfer fluid are the main focus of PVT research, with the sheet and tube collector being the direct reference, and nanofluid being the promised working fluid. This study intends to review the development of the sheet and tube PVT (ST-PVT) system reported by researchers in the literature by searching and selecting quality literature from reputable academic databases guided by set criteria to maintain the consistency and validity of the literature selection. The findings indicate that the ST-PVT system with no glazing and a serpentine collector offers the most desirable thermal and electrical performance. It is also learned that CuO/water nanofluid enhances ST-PVT overall efficiency at a higher rate. However, it is observed that nanofluid required more pumping power, up to 67% for 0.4 wt% SiO2/water concentration compared to water. Also, many ST-PVT studies are only in the numerical modeling stage, while the negative impact of nanofluids is still rarely discussed in the literature. Thus, more research is required to prove the advantages of the ST-PVT system, especially in collector design and nanofluid application.