Experimental Study of Alumina Nanofluids Effects on Thermal Performance Efficiency of Flat Plate Solar Collectors

Abstract

Flat-plate solar collectors (FPSC) heaters are widely
utilized for heating water in residential buildings and other
commercial and industrial applications. The main
disadvantage of solar water heater is their low efficiency.
Improving the thermal characteristics of the working fluid in
solar water heater can dramatically increase its thermal
efficiency. The aim of the present experimental investigation is
to study the effect of using Alumina nanofluids as a working
fluid for the solar water heater on its efficiency. Triton X-100
(Iso-Octyl Phenoxy Polyethxy Ethanol) was used as a
surfactant and its stability and aggregation of the suspension
was investigated. Outdoor experiments have been carried out
in New Borg El-Arab city, Alexandria, Egypt according to
ASHRAE Standard 86-93. Two similar water heaters systems
using pure water and the nanofluids were tested at the same
time, locations and similar conditions. The results showed that
using nanofluid of 0.15% Alumina particles improves the
FPSC thermal efficiency by 18%. More than concentration of
surfactant were tested and the results showed that more stable
nanofluid could be prepared to employ suitable surfactant
concentration and by sophisticating preparation protoco