Analyses of exergy efficiency and pumping power for a conventional flat plate solar collector using SWCNTs based nanofluid

• Published in: Energy and buildings Vol. 78; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Said, Z., Saidur, R., Rahim, N.A., Alim, M.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 01.08.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Absorption; Applied sciences; Building technical equipments; Buildings; Buildings. Public works; Computation methods. Tables. Charts; Density; Energy management and energy conservation in building; Entropy; Environmental engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Exergy; Flat plates; Nanofluid; Nanofluids; Nanostructure; Pumping power; Single wall carbon nanotubes; Solar collector; Solar collectors; Structural analysis. Stresses; SWCNTs; Entropy; Solar collector; Exergy; Nanofluid; SWCNTs; Pumping power; Energy analysis; Nanotube; Heat capacity; Carbon; Recommendation; Experimental result; Transmission electron microscopy; Pumping; Nanofluidics; Exergetic efficiency
• ISSN: 0378-7788
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.03.061

•Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) based nanofluids as an absorbing medium.•SWCNTs nanofluid could reduce the entropy generation by 4.34%.•SWCNTS can enhance the heat transfer coefficient by 15.33%.•SWCNTS should a small penalty in the pumping power by 1.20%.•More efficient solar collectors as a building technology to reduce primary energy. This paper theoretically analyses entropy generation, heat transfer enhancement capabilities and pressure drop for a flat-plate solar collector operated with single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) based nanofluids as an absorbing medium. Specific heat (Cp) of the nanofluid was measured using a PerkinElmer DSC 4000, and a density meter was used to measure the density of the nanofluid. Second law based exergy analysis was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of the flat plate collector. It is observed that the SWCNTs nanofluid reduced the entropy generation by 4.34% and enhance the heat transfer coefficient by 15.33% theoretically compared to water as an absorbing fluid. Pumping power penalty of nanofluid operated solar collector found to be 1.20% higher than the water as a working fluid.