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Theoretical study on performance comparison of various solar collectors using binary nanofluids

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Abstract

The performances of three types of solar collectors using various nanofluids are theoretically investigated; further, by varying the concentration of binary nanofluids comprising of two highly efficient nanofluids, the performances of the solar collectors are analytically examined. The results obtained demonstrate that MWCNT, CuO, and Fe3O4 nanofluids show a higher efficiency compared with other nanofluids. Both MWCNT/CuO and MWCNT/Fe3O4 binary nanofluids provide efficiency enhancements in the range 2–50 %, 3–7 %, and 2–4 %, respectively, in flat plate, vacuum U-tube, and heat pipe solar collectors, compared with a 0.05 vol% MWCNT nanofluid. The use of binary nanofluids enhances the efficiency of solar collectors, which further increases with the concentration of the binary nanofluids. Furthermore, when the MWCNT/CuO binary nanofluid shows a higher efficiency than the MWCNT/Fe3O4 binary nanofluid in three solar collectors.

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Abbreviations

A :

Area (m2)

C :

Conductance (W/m·K)

Cp :

Specific heat capacity (J/kg·K)

D :

Diameter (m)

F :

Efficiency factor

F’:

Solar collector efficiency factor

f :

Friction factor

FR :

Collector heat removal factor

FPSC :

Flat plate solar collector

HPSC :

Heat pipe solar collector

G :

Solar radiation (W/m2)

h :

Heat transfer coefficient (W/m2·K)

k :

Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)

L :

Length (m)

m :

Mass flow rate (kg/s)

Nc :

Number of glass cover

Qu :

Useful heat (W)

T :

Temperature (K)

U :

Overall heat transfer coefficient (W/m2·K)

VUSC :

Vacuum U-tube solar collector

W :

Tube spacing (m)

H :

Efficiency

ε :

Emissivity

φ :

Volume concentration of nanoparticles

ρ :

Density

τα :

Absorptance-transmittance product

δ:

Absorber plate thickness (m)

σ :

Stefan Boltman constant (W/m2·k4)

a :

Ambient

bf :

Base fluid

c :

Absorber coating

i :

Inlet

is :

Inlet surface

np :

Nanoparticle

nf :

Nanofluid

o :

Outlet

os :

Outlet surface

p :

Plate

t :

Tube

w :

Wind

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (NRF-2020R1A2C2008248) and Human Resources Program in Energy Technology of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP), granted financial resources from the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy, Republic of Korea (No. 20194030202410).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School, Chosun University, 303 Pilmun-daero, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 501-759, Korea

    Minjung Lee & Yunchan Shin

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chosun University, 303 Pilmundaero, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 501-759, Korea

    Honghyun Cho

Authors
  1. Minjung Lee
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  2. Yunchan Shin
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Correspondence to Honghyun Cho.

Additional information

Recommended by Editor Yong Tae Kang

Minjung Lee is a Ph.D. course of Mechanical Engineering, Chosun University. She received M.D. from Chosun University in 2020. Her interest includes heat and mass transfer in the solar collector, application of bio-signals in the thermal system, etc.

Yunchan Shin is a Ph.D. candidate of Mechanical Engineering, Chosun University. His interest includes the performance improvement of solar collector, thermal comfort in automobile air-conditioning system, and the performance improvement in the HVAC system et al.

Honghyun Cho is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Chosun University. He received Ph.D. from Korea University in 2005. His interest includes the heat pump system with renewable energy, alternative refrigerant HVAC system, heat and mass transfer in the heat exchanger, pool boiling using nanofluids, etc.

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Lee, M., Shin, Y. & Cho, H. Theoretical study on performance comparison of various solar collectors using binary nanofluids. J Mech Sci Technol 35, 1267–1278 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-021-0238-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-021-0238-4

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