Thermophysical properties of natural zeolite plates enhanced with aluminum granule for thermal management of Photovoltaic Thermal Systems (PVTs)

The main aim of the study is to investigate the thermophysical properties of the natural zeolite plates enhanced with aluminum powder that is proposed first time in the literature to provide thermal regulation for the photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems and energy storage applications. In this study, the production process of the natural zeolite plates was informed. The Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) results of the different grain sizes of natural zeolites, aluminum granule and their mixtures were analyzed. The effects of the enhancement of the natural zeolites by aluminum granule on the thermo-physical properties were investigated. Specific heat values the natural zeolites and aluminum granule at different temperatures were reported. The variation of the thermal conductivity (W/mK) of the natural zeolites with different granule sizes and aluminum with temperature were investigated and the variations of the thermal diffusivity (m2/s) and heat capacity (J/m3C) of the natural zeolites and aluminum with temperature were analyzed. The variations of the thermal conductivity values of natural zeolite mixtures and plates enhanced with aluminum granule with the ratio of 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20%. As the aluminum granule ratio increases, the thermal conductivity value of the natural zeolite plates increases. The thermal conductivity values have been reached 0.934 W/mK for 20% ratio of aluminum granule enhancement for the natural zeolite plates.