Performance Improvement of Nanofluid Based Direct Absorption Solar Collector (DASC) by Pulsating Flowrate

Abstract

Solar energy systems have been recognized as a significant component of HVAC systems during the last two decades, providing thermal and electrical energy for a variety of applications. Meanwhile, nanofluid-based Direct Absorption Solar Collectors (DASCs) hold great potential for converting solar radiation to thermal energy in energy systems since nanoparticles significantly improve the energy-absorbing potential of the base fluid. The primary impediment to commercializing these collectors is the sedimentation and agglomeration of nanoparticles over an extended period of time. The novel design of direct absorption solar collector was modelled in this study by COMSOL software using water and silver nanofluid as the working fluid and the effect of pulsating flowrate on the DASC's performance was investigated in order to increase efficiency and reduce nanoparticle sedimentation and agglomeration. According to the results, collector efficiency can be increased by using pulsing flowrates, and this improvement is much more pronounced when nanofluid is employed as the working fluid, increasing efficiency to 84.2 percent. The energy efficiency of the DASC rises by 5% and 3% with pulsing flowrates for silver nanofluid and water, respectively. Thus, using pulsating flowrate in the direct absorption solar collector can grow thermal efficiency while simultaneously preventing nanoparticle deposition and aggregation in the collector. The findings of this research can pave the way for the use of nanofluid-based direct absorption solar collectors in a variety of energy systems.