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Second law analysis of a nanofluid-based solar collector using experimental data

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Abstract

The present study deals with the entropy generation analysis of a flat-plate solar collector using SiO2/ethylene glycol–water nanofluids. For this purpose, available experimental data on the performance of a flat-plate solar collector are exploited for estimating the entropy generation in the system. Ethylene glycol–water (EG–water) and EG–water-based nanofluids having three different nanoparticle volume fractions including 0.5, 0.75, and 1 % are considered as the working fluids. The results are presented in terms of exergy efficiency, entropy generation parameter, and Bejan number for three different mass flow rates and various solar radiation intensities. It is found that when nanofluid concentration increases from 0 to 1 %, exergy efficiency enhances up to 62.7 % for a mass flow rate of 1 L min−1, whereas the corresponding increases in mass flow rates of 1.75 and 2.5 L min−1 are 45.2 and 39.7 %, respectively. The results also elucidate that entropy generation parameter, which is a function of entropy generation, ambient temperature, and solar radiation, reduces with increasing the nanofluid concentration.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial supports provided by Ferdowsi University of Mashhad under Grant No. 40342. Also, the fourth author would like to thank the “Research Chair Grant” National Science and Technology Development Agency, the Thailand Research fund (TRF), and the National Research University Project for the support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

    Saleh Salavati Meibodi & Ali Kianifar

  2. Young Researchers and Elite Club, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

    Omid Mahian

  3. Fluid Mechanics, Thermal Engineering and Multiphase Flow Research Laboratory (FUTURE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangmod, Bangkok, 10140, Thailand

    Somchai Wongwises

Authors
  1. Saleh Salavati Meibodi
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  2. Ali Kianifar
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  3. Omid Mahian
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  4. Somchai Wongwises
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Correspondence to Ali Kianifar.

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Meibodi, S.S., Kianifar, A., Mahian, O. et al. Second law analysis of a nanofluid-based solar collector using experimental data. J Therm Anal Calorim 126, 617–625 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-016-5522-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-016-5522-7

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