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Potential of simple and hybrid nanofluid enhancement in performances of a flat plate solar water heater under a typical North-African climate (Tunisia)

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Abstract

This work aims to quantify the long-term performance improvement of solar water heater system by using both simple and hybrid nanofluids. For this purpose, transient system simulations of a flat plate solar collector have been carried out and discussed using titanium oxide, magnesium oxide, and copper oxide/multiwalled oxide–carbon nanotube nanofluid-based nanoparticles. Tunisian climatic conditions with a typical household need has been considered, and the investigations have been established in terms of energy amounts, solar fractions, and harmful CO2 emission avoidance. Results showed an increase in the collector performances using the considered nanofluids. In particular, using 0.2v% and 0.6v% TiO2 homogeneously dispersed in water reduced the auxiliary energy up to 47.6 and 60.9%, respectively, compared to the reference case using water. The flat plate solar collector has an annual production of 1294 kWh for a need of 1998 kWh, which equates to an annual coverage rate of roughly 65%. Additionally, it was shown that when MgO with MWCNT were used instead of MgO nanofluid-based nanoparticles, the solar fraction increased by 5.14%. The use of 0.6 volume percent TiO2 nanoparticles in water reduces hazardous CO2 emissions by up to 0.829 tons annually.

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Availability of data and materials

The data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

Abbreviations

A c :

Total collector area, m2

\({C}_{\mathrm{Pn}}\) :

Nanofluid specific heat, kJ/kg K

\({C}_{\mathrm{s}}\) :

Tank heat capacity, J/K

\(I\) :

Total solar irradiance at collector’s aperture, W/m2

\({\dot{m}}_{\mathrm{n}}\) :

Nanofluid mass flow rate in the solar collector, kg/s

\({Q}_{\mathrm{aux}}\) :

Auxiliary energy, J

\({Q}_{\mathrm{coll}}\) :

Energy collected, J

\({Q}_{\mathrm{L}}\) :

Total energy extracted from the system to support the water heating requirements, J

\({Q}_{\mathrm{load}}\) :

Energy rate to load, J

\({Q}_{\mathrm{loss}}\) :

Energy lost from the storage tank and pipes, J

\({Q}_{u}\) :

Useful energy extracted from the collector, J

\({Q}_{u,a}\) :

Total useful energy for the whole year, J

\({S}_{\mathrm{F}}\) :

Solar fraction, %

\(T\) :

Average tank temperature, °C, K

\({T}_{\mathrm{a}}\) :

Ambient (air) temperature, °C, K

\({T}_{\mathrm{i}}\) :

Inlet temperature of fluid to collector, °C, K

\({T}_{\mathrm{o}}\) :

Outlet temperature of fluid from collector, °C, K

\({U}_{\mathrm{C}}\) :

Solar collector heat loss coefficient, W/(m2 K)

\({U}_{\mathrm{S}}\) :

Storage tank loss coefficient, W/K

CRTEn:

Research and Technologies Centre of Energy

DST:

Dynamic System Test

FPSC:

Flat Plate Solar Collector

MWCNT:

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

SWHS:

Solar Water Heater System

\({\alpha }_{i}\) :

Parameter determined from the \(\eta\) plot by using the least square method

\(h\) :

Hour

\(d\) :

Day

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Acknowledgements

Intissar Harrabi gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Dr. Anis Messaouda from the Research and Technologies Centre of Energy in the accomplishment of the dynamic system test (DST) method according to ISO 9459-5.

Funding

This work was supported by the Research and Technologies Centre of Energy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Thermal Process Laboratory, Research and Technologies Centre of Energy, Box 95, 2050, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia

    Intissar Harrabi & Majdi Hazami

  2. Laboratory of Wind Power Control and Waste Energy Recovery, Research and Technologies Centre of Energy, Box 95, 2050, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia

    Mohamed Hamdi

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  1. Intissar Harrabi
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Contributions

Intissar Harrabi performed the investigations, discussed the results, and prepared the manuscript. Mohamed Hamdi edited and discussed the results of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Majdi Hazami contributed in project administration and supervision.

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Correspondence to Intissar Harrabi.

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Harrabi, I., Hamdi, M. & Hazami, M. Potential of simple and hybrid nanofluid enhancement in performances of a flat plate solar water heater under a typical North-African climate (Tunisia). Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 35366–35383 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-24703-0

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