Enhancing energy harvesting performance of a flat plate solar collector through integrated carbon-based and metal-based nanofluids
Mashrur Muntasir Nuhash, Md. Ibthisum Alam, Ananta Zihad, Md. Jahid Hasan, Fei Duan, Arafat A. Bhuiyan, Md. Rezwanul Karim
Abstract
Flat Plate Solar Collectors (FPSCs) have been widely employed in the production of renewable energy for a significant period. To enhance their thermal performance, the utilization of nanofluids as heat transfer fluids has emerged as a popular approach. However, many research works were only carried out with conventional metal-based nanofluids. This numerical study investigates the effects of incorporating two carbon nanotubes, namely single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)/water and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/water, on the fluidic and thermal performance of FPSC. The Nusselt and Stanton numbers, as well as the frictional characteristics, are measured and compared to those of metal-based nanofluid of alumina (Al2O3)/water at volume concentrations up to 1%. It is found that Nu increases with a higher Reynolds number (Re) while deteriorating at a higher volume concentration. The lowest Nu was recorded for SWCNT/water in the current investigation. The Stanton number increases with a higher volume concentration and decreases with an increase of Re. Notably, the maximum value of 0.001801 is obtained for the SWCNT nanofluid. The outlet temperature decreases maximum for SWCNT/water with the increase of Re and volume concentration while the friction factor decreases with increasing Re and is independent of the type of nanofluids. Maximum thermo-hydraulic performance parameter of 1.48, 1.32 and 1.29 is achieved for SWCNT, Al2O3 and MWCNT, respectively.