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Theoretical investigation of the efficiency of a U-tube solar collector using various nanofluids

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  • Kim, Hyeongmin
  • Ham, Jeonggyun
  • Park, Chasik
  • Cho, Honghyun

Abstract

Using thermal energy balance, this paper analyzes and investigates the thermal performance of a U-tube solar collector whose temperature thermal energy is high due to solar radiation. A working fluid of 20% PG (propylene glycol)–water is used. Solar collector efficiency was calculated and energy savings predicted for various nanofluids, such as MWCNT, Al2O3, CuO, SiO2, and TiO2. As a result, thermal conductivity increased as the concentration of nanofluid increased. Solar collector efficiency increased in the following order from greatest to least: MWCNT, CuO, Al2O3, TiO2, and SiO2 nanofluids. When the thermal loss value ((Ti−Ta)/G) was equal to 0, the solar collector using 0.2vol% MWCNT nanofluid showed the greatest efficiency (62.8%, a 10.5% improvement compared to 20% PG–water). By dispersing nanoparticles in the working fluid, the coal usage could be further reduced by approximately 39.5–131.3 kg per year when 50 solar collectors are used. Therefore, CO2 generation could be reduced by 103.8–345.3 kg and SO2 generation by 0.4–1.1 kg per year, compared to solar collectors using a base working fluid of 20% PG–water. These findings contribute to knowledge of solar energy technology, which has the potential to reduce electricity and energy consumption world-wide.

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  • Kim, Hyeongmin & Ham, Jeonggyun & Park, Chasik & Cho, Honghyun, 2016. "Theoretical investigation of the efficiency of a U-tube solar collector using various nanofluids," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 497-507.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:94:y:2016:i:c:p:497-507
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2015.11.021
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    Cited by:

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    7. Gholipour, Shayan & Afrand, Masoud & Kalbasi, Rasool, 2020. "Improving the efficiency of vacuum tube collectors using new absorbent tubes arrangement: Introducing helical coil and spiral tube adsorbent tubes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 772-781.
    8. Mahbubul, I.M. & Khan, Mohammed Mumtaz A. & Ibrahim, Nasiru I. & Ali, Hafiz Muhammad & Al-Sulaiman, Fahad A. & Saidur, R., 2018. "Carbon nanotube nanofluid in enhancing the efficiency of evacuated tube solar collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 36-44.
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    11. Ataee, Sadegh & Ameri, Mehran & Askari, Ighball Baniasad & Keshtegar, Behrooz, 2024. "Evaluation and intelligent forecasting of energy and exergy efficiencies of a nanofluid-based filled-type U-pipe solar ETC using three machine learning approaches," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    12. Sadegh Hosseini, Seyed Mohammad & Dehaj, Mohammad Shafiey, 2021. "An experimental study on energetic performance evaluation of a parabolic trough solar collector operating with Al2O3/water and GO/water nanofluids," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    13. Li, Yongcai & Jiao, Feng & Chen, Fei & Zhang, Zhenhua, 2021. "Design optimization and optical performance analysis on multi-sectioned compound parabolic concentrator with plane absorber," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 913-926.
    14. Gong, Jing-hu & Zhang, Zhi-peng & Sun, Zhi-hao & Wang, Yu-guang & Wang, Jun & Lund, Peter D., 2023. "Thermal and thermo-mechanical analysis of a novel pass-through all-glass evacuated collector tube by combining experiment with numerical simulation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    15. Yıldırım, Erdal & Yurddaş, Ali, 2021. "Assessments of thermal performance of hybrid and mono nanofluid U-tube solar collector system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 1079-1096.
    16. Chopra, K. & Tyagi, V.V. & Pandey, A.K. & Sari, Ahmet, 2018. "Global advancement on experimental and thermal analysis of evacuated tube collector with and without heat pipe systems and possible applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 351-389.
    17. Zhang, H. & Yang, H. & Chen, H.J. & Du, X. & Wen, D. & Wu, H., 2017. "Photothermal conversion characteristics of gold nanoparticles under different filter conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 32-39.
    18. Al-Gebory, Layth & Mengüç, M. Pinar & Koşar, Ali & Şendur, Kürşat, 2018. "Effect of electrostatic stabilization on thermal radiation transfer in nanosuspensions: Photo-thermal energy conversion applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 625-640.
    19. Muhammad, Mahmud Jamil & Muhammad, Isa Adamu & Sidik, Nor Azwadi Che & Yazid, Muhammad Noor Afiq Witri Muhammad & Mamat, Rizalman & Najafi, G., 2016. "The use of nanofluids for enhancing the thermal performance of stationary solar collectors: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 226-236.
    20. Ambreen, Tehmina & Kim, Man-Hoe, 2020. "Influence of particle size on the effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids: A critical review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    21. Daghigh, Roonak & Zandi, Pooya, 2019. "Improving the performance of heat pipe embedded evacuated tube collector with nanofluids and auxiliary gas system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 888-901.

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