DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/ijred.2021.33801

Thermal Performance Comparison of Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) Using Various Nanofluids

1Department of Technology, Shivaji University, District Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India

2Sanjay Ghodawat Group of Institutions, Faculty of engineering, Atigre, District Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India

Received: 28 Oct 2020; Revised: 12 Jun 2021; Accepted: 27 Jun 2021; Available online: 18 Jul 2021; Published: 1 Nov 2021.
Editor(s): H. Hadiyanto
Open Access Copyright (c) 2021 The Authors. Published by Centre of Biomass and Renewable Energy (CBIORE)
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

The objective of this paper is to investigate the theoretical performance of Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) using various nanofluids. The theoretical performances are calculated for Al2O3, graphite, magnetite, SWCNH, CuO, SiO2, MWCNT, TiO2, Fe2O3, and ZnO in water nanofluids. The heat transfer equations, thermodynamic properties of nanofluid and pumping power are utilised for the development of novel thermal model.  The theoretical thermal efficiency of the PTC is calculated, and the economic viability of the technology is predicted for a range of nanofluid concentration. The results showed that the thermal conductivity increases with the concentration of nanoparticles in the base fluid. Magnetite nanofluid showed the highest thermal efficiency, followed by CuO, MWCNT, ZnO, SWCNH, TiO2, Fe2O3, Al2O3, graphite, and SiO2, respectively. The study reveals that MWCNT at 0.4% concentration is the best-suited nanofluid considering thermal gain and pumping power. Most of the nanofluids achieved optimum efficiency at 0.4% concentration. The influence of mass flow rate on thermal efficiency is evaluated. When the mass flow rate increased from 70 Kg/hr to 90Kg/hr, a 10%-20% efficiency increase is observed. Dispersing nanofluids reduces the levelized cost of energy of large-scale power plants. These findings add to the knowledge of the scientific community aimed explicitly at solar thermal energy technology. The report can also be used as a base to pursue solar thermal projects on an economic basis.

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Keywords: PTC thermal performance, pumping power, PTC performance, Nanofluids, levelized cost of PTC, modelling of PTC

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Section: Original Research Article
Language : EN
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