Design, development, and testing of heat pipe evacuated tube solar collector using graphene oxide nanofluid

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Authors

  • Sumit Surve Institute of Chemical Technology, India
  • RSN Sahai Institute of Chemical Technology, India
  • Pravin Nana Jadhav Gharda Institute of Technology, India

Abstract

This study investigates the design and performance of a heat pipe-based evacuated tube solar collector (ETSC) incorporating a copper coil heat exchanger and graphene oxide (GO)-deionized (DI) water nanofluids. Nanofluid samples with GO concentrations of 0.0015 % and 0.0025 % by volume were synthesized and tested at mass flow rates of 0.5 L/min and 1 L/min. Stability analysis using zeta potential measurements confirmed that the nanofluids remained stable for up to 40 days. The experimental tests, conducted at Ratnagiri, Maharashtra (Latitude: 17.05 °N; Longitude: 73.56 °E), demonstrated significant enhancements in heat gain and temperature differentials when GO/DI nanofluids were used compared to conventional water. Thermal efficiency improved with increasing nanofluid concentration and flow rate, achieving a maximum relative enhancement in thermal efficiency of 28.2 % compared to water at a concentration of 0.0025 % and a flow rate of 1 L/min. These findings highlight the potential of GO/DI nanofluids to enhance the thermal performance of ETSCs, providing a promising approach for improving solar energy utilization. The results demonstrate that GO/DI nanofluids can significantly enhance ETSC performance with minimal cost implications, making them a promising solution for efficient solar thermal systems.

Keywords:

evacuated tube, solar collector, graphene oxide, thermal performance