Performance Evaluation of Linear Solar Collector Using …
467
In the present study, a hybrid nanofluid was prepared by suspending CuO and
TiO 2 nanoparticles in ethylene glycol with the primary objective of enhancing its solar
thermal energy conversion. The volume concentration of CuO and TiO 2 nanoparticles
yielding the optimum optical properties was selected for the preparation of the hybrid
nanofluid.
2 Materials and Methods
2.1 Preparation of Binary Nano-fluid
Commercially available CuO and TiO 2 nanoparticles (Sigma Aldrich) were used
to prepare the nanoheat transfer fluid. The particle morphology was examined in
scanning electron microscope. The base fluid employed was ethylene glycol. The
volumetric concentration (ϕ) of the nanoparticle was estimated from the following
equation.
ϕ =
w np/ρ np
w np/ρ np + w bf/ρ bf
(1)
where
w np Mass of nanoparticles;
ρ np Density of nanoparticles;
w bf Mass of heat transfer fluid and
ρ bf Density of heat transfer fluid.
Using the above equation, varying concentrations of CuO and TiO 2 nanofluids
(0.020, 0.025, 0.075, 0.1, and 0.2% by volume) were prepared. These were then
subjected to optical study to estimate its absorbance behavior, and the optimum
concentration of each nanoparticles was selected for the performance evaluation on
Fresnel lens solar collector.
The nanofluid was prepared as follows; the nanoparticles of CuO and TiO 2 at
varying volume concentrations were mixed in ethylene glycol. The resultant solution was subjected to magnetic stirring for 45 min followed by sonication in an
ultrasonicator for 90 min.
2.2 Measurement of Solar Thermal Energy Conversion
of Nano Fluid
Figure 1 shows the experimental set-up used for measuring the solar thermal energy
conversion.
467
In the present study, a hybrid nanofluid was prepared by suspending CuO and
TiO 2 nanoparticles in ethylene glycol with the primary objective of enhancing its solar
thermal energy conversion. The volume concentration of CuO and TiO 2 nanoparticles
yielding the optimum optical properties was selected for the preparation of the hybrid
nanofluid.
2 Materials and Methods
2.1 Preparation of Binary Nano-fluid
Commercially available CuO and TiO 2 nanoparticles (Sigma Aldrich) were used
to prepare the nanoheat transfer fluid. The particle morphology was examined in
scanning electron microscope. The base fluid employed was ethylene glycol. The
volumetric concentration (ϕ) of the nanoparticle was estimated from the following
equation.
ϕ =
w np/ρ np
w np/ρ np + w bf/ρ bf
(1)
where
w np Mass of nanoparticles;
ρ np Density of nanoparticles;
w bf Mass of heat transfer fluid and
ρ bf Density of heat transfer fluid.
Using the above equation, varying concentrations of CuO and TiO 2 nanofluids
(0.020, 0.025, 0.075, 0.1, and 0.2% by volume) were prepared. These were then
subjected to optical study to estimate its absorbance behavior, and the optimum
concentration of each nanoparticles was selected for the performance evaluation on
Fresnel lens solar collector.
The nanofluid was prepared as follows; the nanoparticles of CuO and TiO 2 at
varying volume concentrations were mixed in ethylene glycol. The resultant solution was subjected to magnetic stirring for 45 min followed by sonication in an
ultrasonicator for 90 min.
2.2 Measurement of Solar Thermal Energy Conversion
of Nano Fluid
Figure 1 shows the experimental set-up used for measuring the solar thermal energy
conversion.