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Experimental investigation on energy and exergy analysis of solar water heating system using cobalt oxide based nanofluid

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Abstract

Solar Water Heating system ascertains to be potential technology that effectively converts solar energy to thermal energy. Utilizing nanofluid is one conventional method to ameliorate the heat performance of solar water heating system. This paper aims at presenting the energy and exergy analysis of solar water heating system with Compound Parabolic Collector using Cobalt Oxide (Co3O4)/Distilled Water nanofluid. The volume concentration is considered as 0.2% and 0.4%. The experiment is conducted in different mass flow rates ranging from 0.5 kg/min to 2.5 kg/min with an interval of 0.5 kg/min. Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide is used as the surfactant to prevent the sedimentation of the nanoparticle. Thermal conductivity of the nanofluid enhanced up to 24.35% for 0.4 vol% at 70 ˚C compared to Distilled Water. Though the inclusion of surfactant improved the stability of the nanoparticle in the base fluid, it generated an adverse effect on the thermo-physical property of the nanofluid. Thermal conductivity of the nanofluid with surfactant reduced by 10% while the viscosity increased by 1.1 times compared to nanofluid without surfactant. The outlet temperature of the working fluid improved by 10% and 5.5% while using nanofluid of 0.2 vol% and it further improved by 21.5% and 10.62% while using nanofluid of 0.4 vol% compared to using distilled water as working fluid at the lowest and highest flow rate respectively. Maximum enhancement in energy rate of about 33.32% and 40.88% is observed at the highest flow rate for nanofluid with 0.2 vol% and 0.4 vol%. The exergy efficiency of the system surged up to 20.87% while using nanofluid with 0.4 vol% at the lowest mass flow rate. Exergy destruction of the system reduced by 9.1% and 13.75% at the highest flow rate while using nanofluid of 0.4 vol%. The exergy loss of the system decreased with an improved volume concentration of the nanofluid.

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Abbreviations

Ac :

Area of the Collector, m2

To :

Outlet Temperature, ˚C

Ti :

Inlet Temperature, ˚C

m:

Mass Flow Rate, kg/min

Cp :

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kgK

H:

Height of CPC, mm

Wd:

Width of CPC, mm

I:

Solar Radiation, W

Pi :

Pressure at the inlet, Pa

Po :

Pressure at the outlet, Pa

Ėx:

Exergy Rate, W

Ta :

Ambient Temperature, K

Ts :

Sun Temperature, K

h:

Specific Enthalpy, J/kg

Sgen :

Entropy Generation, W

kp:

Thermal Conductivity, W/mK

W:

Weight, kg

At :

Surface area of the tube, mm2

Tt:

Tube temperature, K

U1:

Heat Loss Coefficient

η:

Energy Efficiency

ηex:

Exergy Efficiency

ρ:

Density, kg/m3

∅:

Volume Concentration (vol %)

τ:

Transmittance Coefficient

α:

Absorptance of glazing

Φ:

Diameter, mm

θa :

Acceptance Angle (degree)

θ:

Diffraction angle (degree)

λ:

Wavelength of XRD (Å)

β:

Breadth angle

SWH:

Solar Water Heater

CPC:

Compound Parabolic Collector

DW:

Distilled Water

NF:

Nanofluid

CTAB:

Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide

SWCNT:

Single Wall Carbon Nano Tube

MWCNT:

Multi-Wall Carbon Nano Tube

TC:

Thermal Conductivity

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, India

    Manoram R. B

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Anna University Regional Campus, Coimbatore, India

    Sathiya Moorthy R

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Correspondence to Sathiya Moorthy R.

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B, M.R., R, S.M. Experimental investigation on energy and exergy analysis of solar water heating system using cobalt oxide based nanofluid. Heat Mass Transfer 58, 83–98 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-021-03093-y

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