Investigating the performance of the Tesla valve channel in a photovoltaic thermal system through numerical simulation: Evaluation from the standpoint of thermodynamic laws

This study examines the impact of integrating a Tesla valve on the functionality of a photovoltaic/thermal (PVT) unit under laminar and turbulent flow conditions. Improving the geometry of PVT enhances its thermal and electrical efficiency while reducing its size. Here, a three-dimensional numerical analysis was performed for eight Reynolds numbers (Re) ranging from 500 to 20,000. The objective was to investigate the effects of reverse and forward flow patterns (RFP and FFP) on key hydrothermal and entropy generation characteristics and to determine the best geometry and flow pattern of the studied PVT. The results indicated that in the laminar and turbulent regimes, the PV panel temperature in the RFP was 0.045–0.017 % and 0.126 %–0.074 % lower than that in the FFP, respectively. Additionally, transitioning from Re of 500 to 20,000 led to a 5.09 % decrease in the PV panel temperature. Moreover, the overall efficiency in the RFP was 1.62 %–4.21 % greater than that in the FFP, and the Re rise decreased the difference between the overall efficiency in the two flow patterns. Furthermore, the frictional entropy generation rate significantly exceeded the thermal term, increasing by 514 folds and 407 folds at Re = 10,000 and 20,000 compared to the values at Re = 500 in the RFP and FFP, respectively.