Flat plate solar collector performance using alumina nanofluids: Experimental characterization and efficiency tests.

Solar energy has become an important renewable energy source for reducing the use of fossil fuels and to mitigate global warming, for which solar collectors constitute a technology that is to be promoted. The use of nanofluids can increase the efficiency of solar into thermal energy conversion in so...

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Main Authors: Rosa Mondragón, Daniel Sánchez, Ramón Cabello, Rodrigo Llopis, J Enrique Juliá
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2019-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212260
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author Rosa Mondragón
Daniel Sánchez
Ramón Cabello
Rodrigo Llopis
J Enrique Juliá
author_facet Rosa Mondragón
Daniel Sánchez
Ramón Cabello
Rodrigo Llopis
J Enrique Juliá
author_sort Rosa Mondragón
collection DOAJ
description Solar energy has become an important renewable energy source for reducing the use of fossil fuels and to mitigate global warming, for which solar collectors constitute a technology that is to be promoted. The use of nanofluids can increase the efficiency of solar into thermal energy conversion in solar collectors. Experimental values for the specific heat, thermal conductivity and viscosity of alumina/water nanofluids are needed to evaluate the influence of the solid content (from 0.25 to 5 v%) and the flow rate on the Reynolds, Nusselt and the heat transfer coefficient. In the laminar flow regime, thermal conductivity enhancement over specific heat decrement is key parameter, and a 2.34% increase in the heat transfer coefficient is theoretically obtained for 1 v% alumina nanofluid. To corroborate the results, experimental tests were run in a flat plate solar collector. A reduction in efficiency from 47% to 41.5% and a decrease in the heat removal factor were obtained using the nanofluid due to the formation of a nanoparticle deposition layer adding an addition thermal resistance to heat transfer. Nanofluids are recommended only if the nanoparticle concentration is high enough to enhance thermal conductivity, but no so high so as to avoid wall deposition.
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spelling doaj.art-9d8a7a82c03b42e38166282cef125b162022-12-21T19:13:51ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032019-01-01142e021226010.1371/journal.pone.0212260Flat plate solar collector performance using alumina nanofluids: Experimental characterization and efficiency tests.Rosa MondragónDaniel SánchezRamón CabelloRodrigo LlopisJ Enrique JuliáSolar energy has become an important renewable energy source for reducing the use of fossil fuels and to mitigate global warming, for which solar collectors constitute a technology that is to be promoted. The use of nanofluids can increase the efficiency of solar into thermal energy conversion in solar collectors. Experimental values for the specific heat, thermal conductivity and viscosity of alumina/water nanofluids are needed to evaluate the influence of the solid content (from 0.25 to 5 v%) and the flow rate on the Reynolds, Nusselt and the heat transfer coefficient. In the laminar flow regime, thermal conductivity enhancement over specific heat decrement is key parameter, and a 2.34% increase in the heat transfer coefficient is theoretically obtained for 1 v% alumina nanofluid. To corroborate the results, experimental tests were run in a flat plate solar collector. A reduction in efficiency from 47% to 41.5% and a decrease in the heat removal factor were obtained using the nanofluid due to the formation of a nanoparticle deposition layer adding an addition thermal resistance to heat transfer. Nanofluids are recommended only if the nanoparticle concentration is high enough to enhance thermal conductivity, but no so high so as to avoid wall deposition.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212260
spellingShingle Rosa Mondragón
Daniel Sánchez
Ramón Cabello
Rodrigo Llopis
J Enrique Juliá
Flat plate solar collector performance using alumina nanofluids: Experimental characterization and efficiency tests.
PLoS ONE
title Flat plate solar collector performance using alumina nanofluids: Experimental characterization and efficiency tests.
title_full Flat plate solar collector performance using alumina nanofluids: Experimental characterization and efficiency tests.
title_fullStr Flat plate solar collector performance using alumina nanofluids: Experimental characterization and efficiency tests.
title_full_unstemmed Flat plate solar collector performance using alumina nanofluids: Experimental characterization and efficiency tests.
title_short Flat plate solar collector performance using alumina nanofluids: Experimental characterization and efficiency tests.
title_sort flat plate solar collector performance using alumina nanofluids experimental characterization and efficiency tests
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212260
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