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Recent Trends in Fluid Mechanics Original Research

Integrated Optimization of Solar Photovoltaic Systems Using Taguchi Method and Computational Fluid Dynamics for Enhanced Efficiency

  1. Shahina Momin Deparment of Mechanical Engineering, Rajarambapu Institute of Technology, Sangli
  2. M.M. Mirza Deparment of Mechanical Engineering, Rajarambapu Institute of Technology, Sangli

Abstract

The transition to renewable energy demands efficient and reliable photovoltaic (PV) systems to meet rising global energy needs. This study presents an integrated optimization framework combining the Taguchi method and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to improve the thermal and electrical performance of solar PV systems. A structured experimental design using an L9 orthogonal array evaluates the influence of three key parameters—material type, panel thickness, and cooling mechanism—on system efficiency. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) identifies the relative contribution of each factor, with material type contributing 40%, cooling 35%, and thickness 25%. The optimal configuration (monocrystalline, 2.0 mm thickness, and liquid cooling) achieved an actual efficiency of 19.7%, closely matching the predicted 19.9%. CFD simulations in ANSYS Fluent validated the thermal improvements by simulating heat dissipation under varying boundary conditions, highlighting liquid cooling as the most effective strategy. The hybrid approach demonstrates the value of integrating design of experiments with numerical modeling to produce scalable, high-performance PV solutions. This methodology not only enhances PV system design but also offers a replicable framework for multi-parameter optimization in other renewable energy technologies.

Keywords

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