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Evaluation of the optical properties of Al2O3 nanofluids using various surfactants and the performance of a Fresnel lens-coupled parabolic dish solar collector
Jeongho Park, Hyemin Kim, Barah Ahn and Honghyun Cho
In this study, Al2O3 nanofluid was applied to enhance the performance of a Fresnel lens-coupled parabolic dish-type solar collector (PDC). First, Gum arabic and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate surfactants were compared to improve the dispersion stability of the Al2O3 nanofluid, and Gum arabic exhibited superior stability. Additionally, to determine the optimal concentration of the Al2O3 nanofluid, light absorption characteristics were analyzed at various concentrations (0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, 0.2wt%). The results confirmed that most solar radiation energy was effectively absorbed at concentrations of 0.075wt% or higher. Therefore, Al2O3 nanofluid with an optimal concentration of 0.075wt% was used as a heat transfer fluid in PDC, and its thermal performance was experimentally evaluated. As a PDC experimental result, the average thermal efficiency increased by approximately 53.7%, from 40.6% for the base fluid to 62.4% for the Al2O3 nanofluid. In addition, the average exergy efficiency improved by approximately 184.2%, increasing from 2.02% for the base fluid to 5.74% for the Al2O3 nanofluid. These results indicate that the application of an Al2O3 nanofluid can effectively improve the thermal performance of dish-type solar collectors by enhancing light absorption and heat transfer characteristics. This study demonstrates the performance improvement achievable with an Al2O3 nanofluid and is expected to contribute to the practical application of dish-type solar collectors.
Keywords: AAl2O3 nanofluids, Dish solar collector, Optical absorption, Solar thermal energy, Surfactants
DOI: 10.32908/hthp.v55.2110