Time-based assessment of thermal performance of flat plate solar collector using magnesium oxide nanofluid

Abstract

The effect of 0.1 and 0.3 volume% magnesium oxide nanofluid at a flow rate of 0.5, 1 and 1.5 litres per minute (lit/min) was analyzed on the flat plate solar collector in a gap of ten days. The 1.5 and 0.5 lit/min was not recommended due to lower outlet temperature and higher heat losses, respectively. At 1 lit/min, thermal efficiency declined by 61.2% for 0.3 volume% after ten days, while it dropped insignificantly for 0.1 volume%. The absorbed energy parameter, FR(τα) increased by 9.7%, and heat losses decreased by 50.5% for 0.1 volume%. The FR(τα) was about 17.7% and 4.8% for 1st and 10th day, respectively with 0.3 volume%. It purports that merely the optimum concentration of nanoparticles maximises the benefits.

Keywords

• flat plate solar collector
• thermal efficiency
• nanofluid
• magnesium oxide