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Performance analysis of direct absorption-based parabolic trough solar collector using hybrid nanofluids

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Abstract

Addition of a small amount of nanoparticles to the working fluids of a parabolic trough collector does not only enhance the heat transfer properties and thermal conductivity of basefluid but also improves the thermal efficiency of the system. The current investigation presents a comparative analysis of experimental performance of a conventional parabolic trough collector and direct absorption parabolic trough collector for capturing solar thermal energy. Two separate nanomaterials, Al2O3 (with high scattering properties) and CuO (with high absorption properties), were selected for the preparation of the hybrid nanofluids. A customized experimental setup was developed to evaluate their photothermal performance. The nanofluid samples in the concentration range of 0.01–0.5 wt% were investigated under a natural solar flux. Thermal efficiency of conventional parabolic trough collector was increased by 31% using hybrid nanofluid as compared to basefluid. The thermal efficiency enhancement of direct absorption parabolic trough collector was observed as 19% higher than that of conventional parabolic trough collector due to higher heat transfer rate, solar trapping and volumetric absorption. These binary nanofluids can be potential working fluids in various applications based on solar thermal energy.

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Abbreviations

PTC:

Parabolic trough collector

CPTC:

Conventional parabolic trough collector

DAPTC:

Direct absorption parabolic trough collector

MWCNT:

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes

NPs:

Nanoparticles

NF:

Nanofluid

HTFs:

Heat transfer fluids

A ap :

Area of the aperture (m2)

C p :

Specific heat (J/kg K)

G :

Solar irradiance flux (W/m2)

CR:

Concentration ratio of parabolic trough collector

T out :

Outlet temperature (K)

T in :

Inlet temperature (K)

ṁ :

Mass flow rate (L/min)

ΔT :

Change in temperature (K)

Q u :

Heat transfer rate (W)

ρ :

Density (kg/s)

η th :

Thermal efficiency

Φ:

Volume fraction of nanoparticles

K e/K f :

Ratio of thermal conductivity of NF to that of the basefluid

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, under Faculty Research Grant for this research. This work is based on a thesis entitled “Experimental performance analysis of hybrid nanofluid based direct solar collection using evacuated tube parabolic trough solar collector” submitted to the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan [47].

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical, Mechatronics and Manufacturing Engineering, New Campus, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan

    Atisham Khalil, Muhammad Amjad, Fahad Noor & Saad Nawaz

  2. Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan

    Amjad Hussain

  3. School of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil

    Enio P. Bandarra Filho

  4. School of Energy, Power and Mechanical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, China

    Xiaoze Du

Authors
  1. Atisham Khalil
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  2. Muhammad Amjad
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  3. Fahad Noor
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  4. Amjad Hussain
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Correspondence to Muhammad Amjad.

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Khalil, A., Amjad, M., Noor, F. et al. Performance analysis of direct absorption-based parabolic trough solar collector using hybrid nanofluids. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 42, 573 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-020-02654-2

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