Nanofluids for the Synthesis of Solar Thermal Energy

Abstract

The use of Al2O3-Water nano-fluids in a solar flat plate collector to increase solar energy collection and conversion is examined in this research (SFPC). Both experimental and theoretical analysis is done to determine how effective a solar flat plate collectors is while using water as the fluid medium. Al2O3- Water nanofluid was chosen as the fluid medium to increase the SFPC's capacity for solar energy collecting and conversion. A few models of Al2O3-Water nano-fluids had their density, particular capacity for heat, thermal conductivity, and viscosity examined and compared; the best model was chosen to change the simulation. It was discovered that the particle diameter had a negligible impact on the nanofluid properties. It was discovered that 4% was the ideal volume level of the nanofluid, which resulted in a 7.78% improvement in SFPC efficiency over the usage of water. The size of the SFPC is decreased by 10.5% as a result. Due to its clean and sustainable nature, solar thermal energy is a novel technology that is becoming more and more popular. However, the efficiency of solar thermal systems is limited by the low thermal conductivity and heat transfer coefficient of the heat transfer fluids used. Nanofluids, which are suspensions of nanoparticles in a base fluid, have been proposed as a promising solution to this problem. In this review, we discuss the potential of nanofluids for the synthesis of solar thermal energy.