Experimental and CFD investigation on the efficiency of parabolic solar collector involving Al2O3/H2O (DI) nanofluid as a working fluid

KETAN AJAY, Kundan Lal

Abstract



Nanotechnology plays a major role in heat transfer related problems. This study evaluates the effect of nanofluid as a working fluid on parabolic solar collector’s overall efficiency through both experimental and CFD analysis. α-Al2O3 nanoparticle of 20 nm average size is used for the preparation of  Al2O3-H2O (DI)  nanofluid of four different volumetric concentrations of 0.05%, 0.75%, 0.1% and 0.125% respectively. Working fluid is made to flow at three different volume flow rates (30 LPH, 50 LPH and 80 LPH). ANSYS FLUENT 14.5 is used for carrying out CFD simulation, where solar flux is modelled through solar load cell and solar ray tracing. It has been observed that, there is improvement in instantaneous efficiency, thermal efficiency and in overall efficiency, when water is replaced by Al2O3-H2O (DI) nanofluid and also with corresponding increase in the mass flow rate of working fluid. An improvement of about 9.31%, 11.87%, and 13.98% in the collector’s overall efficiency is seen, when water is replaced by 0.125% vol. conc. Al2O3-H2O (DI) nanofluid at a flow rates of 30 LPH, 50 LPH and 80 LPH respectively. Also, both experimental and CFD analysis results are in close agreement with a difference of 8%.


Keywords


Solar energy, parabolic solar collector; nanofluid; CFD;Al2O3;Thermal efficiency

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References


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DOI (PDF): https://doi.org/10.20508/ijrer.v6i2.3370.g6799

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