IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i6p4704-d1089787.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Thermo-Hydraulic Performance Analysis of Fe 3 O 4 -Water Nanofluid-Based Flat-Plate Solar Collectors

Author

Listed:
  • Mehak Shafiq

    (School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK)

  • Muhammad Farooq

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore 54890, Pakistan)

  • Waqas Javed

    (School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK)

  • George Loumakis

    (School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK)

  • Don McGlinchey

    (School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK)

Abstract

A cost-effective alternative for lowering carbon emissions from building heating is the use of flat-plate solar collectors (FPSCs). However, low thermal efficiency is a significant barrier to their effective implementation. Favorable nanofluids’ thermophysical properties have the potential to increase FPSCs’ effectiveness. Accordingly, this study evaluates the performance of an FPSC operating with Fe 3 O 4 -water nanofluid in terms of its thermo-hydraulic characteristics with operating parameters ranging from 303 to 333 K for the collector inlet temperature, 0.0167 to 0.05 kg/s for the mass flow rate, and 0.1 to 2% for nanoparticles’ volume fraction, respectively. The numerical findings demonstrated that under identical operating conditions, increasing the volume fraction up to 2% resulted in an improvement of 4.28% and 8.90% in energy and energy efficiency, respectively. However, a 13.51% and 7.93% rise in the friction factor and pressure drop, respectively, have also been observed. As a result, the performance index (PI) criteria were used to determine the optimal volume fraction (0.5%) of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles, which enhanced the convective heat transfer, exergy efficiency, and energy efficiency by 12.90%, 4.33%, and 2.64%, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Mehak Shafiq & Muhammad Farooq & Waqas Javed & George Loumakis & Don McGlinchey, 2023. "Thermo-Hydraulic Performance Analysis of Fe 3 O 4 -Water Nanofluid-Based Flat-Plate Solar Collectors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-21, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:6:p:4704-:d:1089787
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/6/4704/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/6/4704/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. R. M. Mostafizur & M. G. Rasul & M. N. Nabi, 2021. "Energy and Exergy Analyses of a Flat Plate Solar Collector Using Various Nanofluids: An Analytical Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Eduardo Rodríguez & José M. Cardemil & Allan R. Starke & Rodrigo Escobar, 2022. "Modelling the Exergy of Solar Radiation: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-26, February.
    3. Hepbasli, Arif, 2008. "A key review on exergetic analysis and assessment of renewable energy resources for a sustainable future," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 593-661, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Song, Zhiying & Ji, Jie & Cai, Jingyong & Zhao, Bin & Li, Zhaomeng, 2021. "Investigation on a direct-expansion solar-assisted heat pump with a novel hybrid compound parabolic concentrator/photovoltaic/fin evaporator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    2. Juaidi, Adel & Montoya, Francisco G. & Ibrik, Imad H. & Manzano-Agugliaro, Francisco, 2016. "An overview of renewable energy potential in Palestine," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 943-960.
    3. Rômulo de Oliveira Azevêdo & Paulo Rotela Junior & Luiz Célio Souza Rocha & Gianfranco Chicco & Giancarlo Aquila & Rogério Santana Peruchi, 2020. "Identification and Analysis of Impact Factors on the Economic Feasibility of Photovoltaic Energy Investments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-40, September.
    4. Kerme, Esa Dube & Orfi, Jamel & Fung, Alan S. & Salilih, Elias M. & Khan, Salah Ud-Din & Alshehri, Hassan & Ali, Emad & Alrasheed, Mohammed, 2020. "Energetic and exergetic performance analysis of a solar driven power, desalination and cooling poly-generation system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    5. Maia, Cristiana Brasil & Ferreira, André Guimarães & Cabezas-Gómez, Luben & de Oliveira Castro Silva, Janaína & de Morais Hanriot, Sérgio, 2017. "Thermodynamic analysis of the drying process of bananas in a small-scale solar updraft tower in Brazil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(PB), pages 1005-1012.
    6. Carolino, Cristina Guedes & Medeiros Ferreira, João Paulo, 2013. "First and second law analyses to an energetic valorization process of biogas," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 58-64.
    7. Toghyani, Mahboubeh & Rahimi, Amir, 2015. "Exergy analysis of an industrial unit of catalyst regeneration based on the results of modeling and simulation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 1049-1056.
    8. Meroueh, Laureen & Yenduru, Karthik & Dasgupta, Arindam & Jiang, Duo & AuYeung, Nick, 2019. "Energy storage based on SrCO3 and Sorbents—A probabilistic analysis towards realizing solar thermochemical power plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 770-786.
    9. Aygun, Hakan & Turan, Onder, 2021. "Exergo-economic analysis of off-design a target drone engine for reconnaissance mission flight," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    10. Mohanraj, M. & Belyayev, Ye. & Jayaraj, S. & Kaltayev, A., 2018. "Research and developments on solar assisted compression heat pump systems – A comprehensive review (Part A: Modeling and modifications)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 90-123.
    11. Shangyuan Chen & Jinfeng Mao & Xu Han & Chaofeng Li & Liyao Liu, 2016. "Numerical Analysis of the Factors Influencing a Vertical U-Tube Ground Heat Exchanger," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-12, September.
    12. Xydis, G. & Koroneos, C. & Loizidou, M., 2009. "Exergy analysis in a wind speed prognostic model as a wind farm sitting selection tool: A case study in Southern Greece," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(11), pages 2411-2420, November.
    13. Hepbasli, Arif & Alsuhaibani, Zeyad, 2011. "Exergetic and exergoeconomic aspects of wind energy systems in achieving sustainable development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(6), pages 2810-2825, August.
    14. Vonsée, Bram & Crijns-Graus, Wina & Liu, Wen, 2019. "Energy technology dependence - A value chain analysis of geothermal power in the EU," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 419-435.
    15. Roy, Debmalya & Shastri, Babita & Imamuddin, Md. & Mukhopadhyay, K. & Rao, K.U. Bhasker, 2011. "Nanostructured carbon and polymer materials – Synthesis and their application in energy conversion devices," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 1014-1018.
    16. Mohammed, Ammar & Pasupuleti, Jagadeesh & Khatib, Tamer & Elmenreich, Wilfried, 2015. "A review of process and operational system control of hybrid photovoltaic/diesel generator systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 436-446.
    17. Basma Souayeh & Kashif Ali Abro & Huda Alfannakh & Muneerah Al Nuwairan & Amina Yasin, 2022. "Application of Fourier Sine Transform to Carbon Nanotubes Suspended in Ethylene Glycol for the Enhancement of Heat Transfer," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-12, February.
    18. Ooshaksaraei, Poorya & Sopian, Kamaruzzaman & Zaidi, Saleem H. & Zulkifli, Rozli, 2017. "Performance of four air-based photovoltaic thermal collectors configurations with bifacial solar cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(PB), pages 279-293.
    19. Borunda, Mónica & Jaramillo, O.A. & Dorantes, R. & Reyes, Alberto, 2016. "Organic Rankine Cycle coupling with a Parabolic Trough Solar Power Plant for cogeneration and industrial processes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 651-663.
    20. Wetser, Koen & Sudirjo, Emilius & Buisman, Cees J.N. & Strik, David P.B.T.B., 2015. "Electricity generation by a plant microbial fuel cell with an integrated oxygen reducing biocathode," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 151-157.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:6:p:4704-:d:1089787. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.