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31 pages, 6460 KiB

Open AccessReview

Nanofluids for Direct-Absorption Solar Collectors—DASCs: A Review on Recent Progress and Future Perspectives

by Hussein Sayed Moghaieb, Vincenzo Amendola, Sameh Khalil, Supriya Chakrabarti, Paul Maguire and Davide Mariotti

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1232; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071232 - 30 Mar 2023

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4098

Abstract

Owing to their superior optical and thermal properties over conventional fluids, nanofluids represent an innovative approach for use as working fluids in direct-absorption solar collectors for efficient solar-to-thermal energy conversion. The application of nanofluids in direct-absorption solar collectors demands high-performance solar thermal nanofluids that exhibit exceptional physical and chemical stability over long periods and under a variety of operating, fluid dynamics, and temperature conditions. In this review, we discuss recent developments in the field of nanofluids utilized in direct-absorption solar collectors in terms of their preparation techniques, optical behaviours, solar thermal energy conversion performance, as well as their physical and thermal stability, along with the experimental setups and calculation approaches used. We also highlight the challenges associated with the practical implementation of nanofluid-based direct-absorption solar collectors and offer suggestions and an outlook for the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Nanofluids in Renewable Energy Engineering)

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17 pages, 6979 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance Evaluation of Carbon-Based Nanofluids for Direct Absorption Solar Collector

by Shang-Pang Yu, Tun-Ping Teng, Chia-Cing Huang, Hsiang-Kai Hsieh and Yi-Jia Wei

Energies 2023, 16(3), 1157; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16031157 - 20 Jan 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1725

Abstract

In this study, carbon-based nanofluids (CBNFs) were prepared using a revised vortex trap method and applied in the direct absorption solar collector (DASC) to evaluate the feasibility of CBNFs in DASC. The thermal storage performance of water and different concentrations of CBNFs (0.01, 0.025 and 0.05 wt%) was assessed with a 1000 W halogen lamp as a simulated light source under different volumetric flow rates (1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 L per minute [LPM]) at a constant thermal storage load (2.4 kg of water) and ambient temperature of 26 °C. The thermal storage capacity, system efficiency factor (SEF), and heating rate of the CBNFs as the working fluid were higher than those of water in most cases. The thermal storage capacity and SEF of 0.05 wt% CBNF at a volumetric flow rate of 3.0 LPM were 10.36% and 9.36% higher than that of water, respectively. The relevant experimental results demonstrate the great potential of CBNFs in DASC. Full article

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23 pages, 3318 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Developments in Optical and Thermal Performance of Direct Absorption Solar Collectors

by Muzamil Hussain, Syed Khawar Hussain Shah, Uzair Sajjad, Naseem Abbas and Ahsan Ali

Energies 2022, 15(19), 7101; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15197101 - 27 Sep 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2239

Abstract

Solar energy is the most promising green energy resource, as there is an enormous supply of solar power. It is considered a good potential solution for energy crises in both domestic and industrial sectors. Nowadays, many types of solar systems are used for harvesting solar energy. Most of the research is focused on direct absorption solar collectors (DASCs) due to their ability to capture more solar energy. The effectiveness of DASCs is dependent on various factors, such as working fluid properties, geometry, and operating parameters. This review summarizes the impact of different design and operating parameters on the performance of DASCs. Many effective parameters are considered and their impact on optical and thermal properties is summarized. The influence of working fluid parameters, such as base fluid type, nanoparticle type, nanoparticle size, nanoparticle shape, and nanoparticle concentration on heat transfer performance, was discussed and their optimum range was suggested. The effects of collector dimensions and many novel design configurations were discussed. The effect of the most important operating parameters, such as temperature, flow rate, flow regime, and irradiance on collector performance, was briefly summarized. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heat Transfer in Solar Collector)

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8 pages, 603 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Hybrid Nanofluid in a Direct Absorption Solar Collector: Magnetite vs. Carbon Nanotubes Compete for Thermal Performance

by Pavel G. Struchalin, Dmitrii M. Kuzmenkov, Vladimir S. Yunin, Xinzhi Wang, Yurong He and Boris V. Balakin

Energies 2022, 15(5), 1604; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15051604 - 22 Feb 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2096

Abstract

The paper presents the experimental measurements of thermal efficiency of a tubular direct absorption solar collector (DASC) with a hybrid nanofluid based on magnetite (Fe

_{3}

_{4}

) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). The volumetric concentration of Fe

_{3}

_{4}

and [...] Read more.

The paper presents the experimental measurements of thermal efficiency of a tubular direct absorption solar collector (DASC) with a hybrid nanofluid based on magnetite (Fe

_{3}

_{4}

) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). The volumetric concentration of Fe

_{3}

_{4}

and MWCNT was 0.0053% and 0.0045%, respectively. The experiments were carried out for the flow rates of 2–10 L/min and a temperature difference up to 20

^{\circ}

C between the environment and the DASC. The performance of the DASC with a hybrid nanofluid was in the range of 52.3–69.4%, which was just beyond the performance of the collector with surface absorption. It was also found that using a MWCNT-based nanofluid with an equivalent total volumetric concentration of particles (0.0091%), the efficiency was 8.3–31.5% higher than for the cases with the hybrid nanofluid. Full article

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