The efficiency of Al2O3 water nanofluid on a flat plate solar collector

Abstract

Solar collectors are particular kind of heat exchangers that transform solar radiation energy into internal energy of the transport medium. One of the most effective methods is replacing the working fluid (water, ethylene glycol, engine oil…) by developing a new class of fluids with a higher thermal conductivity for thermal systems. In the present work the effect of Al2O3-water, as working fluid, on the efficiency of a flat plate solar collector is investigated experimentally. The mass flow rate of nanofluid is 150 Lit/h. The volume fraction of the nanoparticles is 0.2 %, 0.4 % and 0.8 % respectively. The results reveal the impact and importance of each of these parameters. Experimental results reveal that utilizing the nanofluid increases the collector efficiency in comparison to water as an absorbing medium