Dispersing trace amounts of nanoparticles into common base-fluids has a significant impact on the optical as well as thermophysical properties of the base-fluid. This characteristic can be utilized to effectively capture and transport solar radiation. Enhancement of the solar irradiance absorption capacity leads to a higher heat transfer rate resulting in more efficient heat transfer. This paper attempts to introduce the idea of harvesting solar radiant energy through usage of nanofluid-based concentrating parabolic solar collectors (NCPSC). In order to theoretically analyze the NCPSC, it has been mathematically modeled, and the governing equations have been numerically solved using finite difference technique. The results of the model were compared with the experimental results of conventional concentrating parabolic solar collectors under similar conditions. It was observed that while maintaining the same external conditions (such as ambient/inlet temperatures, wind speed, solar insolation, flow rate, concentration ratio, etc.) the NCPSC has about 5–10% higher efficiency as compared to the conventional parabolic solar collector. Furthermore, parametric studies were carried out to discover the influence of various parameters on performance and efficiency. The following parameters were studied in the present study: solar insolation, incident angle, and the convective heat transfer coefficient. The theoretical results clearly indicate that the NCPSC has the potential to harness solar radiant energy more efficiently than a conventional parabolic trough.
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August 2012
Research-Article
Solar Energy Harvesting Using Nanofluids-Based Concentrating Solar Collector
Himanshu Tyagi,
Himanshu Tyagi
1
e-mail: himanshu.tyagi@iitrpr.ac.in
School of Mechanical
,Materials and Energy Engineering
,Indian Institute of Technology Ropar
,Rupnagar, Punjab 140001
, India
1Corresponding author.
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Patrick E. Phelan,
Patrick E. Phelan
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
,Arizona State University
,Tempe, AZ 85287-6106
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Todd P. Otanicar,
Todd P. Otanicar
Department of Mechanical Engineering
,University of Tulsa
,Tulsa, OK 74104
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Harjit Singh,
Harjit Singh
School of Engineering and Design
,Brunel University
,Uxbridge, UB8 3PH
, UK
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Robert A. Taylor
Robert A. Taylor
School of Mechanical and
Manufacturing Engineering
,The University of New South Wales
,Gate 14, Barker Street
,Kensington, Sydney
, 2052, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
Himanshu Tyagi
e-mail: himanshu.tyagi@iitrpr.ac.in
School of Mechanical
,Materials and Energy Engineering
,Indian Institute of Technology Ropar
,Rupnagar, Punjab 140001
, India
Patrick E. Phelan
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
,Arizona State University
,Tempe, AZ 85287-6106
Todd P. Otanicar
Department of Mechanical Engineering
,University of Tulsa
,Tulsa, OK 74104
Harjit Singh
School of Engineering and Design
,Brunel University
,Uxbridge, UB8 3PH
, UK
Robert A. Taylor
School of Mechanical and
Manufacturing Engineering
,The University of New South Wales
,Gate 14, Barker Street
,Kensington, Sydney
, 2052, Australia
1Corresponding author.
Paper presented at the 2012 3rd Micro/Nanoscale Heat & Mass Transfer International Conference (MNHMT2012), Atlanta, GA, Mar. 3–6, 2012. Manuscript received March 12, 2012; final manuscript received August 10, 2012; published online January 18, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Debjyoti Banerjee.
J. Nanotechnol. Eng. Med. Aug 2012, 3(3): 031003 (9 pages)
Published Online: January 18, 2013
Article history
Received:
March 12, 2012
Revision Received:
August 10, 2012
Citation
Khullar, V., Tyagi, H., Phelan, P. E., Otanicar, T. P., Singh, H., and Taylor, R. A. (January 18, 2013). "Solar Energy Harvesting Using Nanofluids-Based Concentrating Solar Collector." ASME. J. Nanotechnol. Eng. Med. August 2012; 3(3): 031003. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4007387
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