Broadband absorbing mono, blended and hybrid nanofluids for direct absorption solar collector: a comprehensive review

Abstract

The evolution of nanofluids over the years have opened new research opportunities in the field of renewable energy. Research on the optical properties of nanofluids for application in direct absorption solar collectors (DASCs) is progressing at a burgeoning speed. In a direct absorption solar collector system, nanofluid with high optical absorptivity will convert the incident solar energy to the thermal energy of the fluid. The dispersed nanoparticles in the fluid acts in the process by the phenomenon of absorption and scattering. Studies conducted on the optical property characterization of monocomponent nanofluids have become saturated. Moreover, the photothermal efficiency of the nanofluid could be enhanced by using multicomponent nanofluids. Nanofluid prepared by varying materials, shapes, and size of nanoparticles could tune the absorption spectra of the bulk fluid to improve the photothermal efficiency. A hybrid nanocomposite can similarly enhance the absorptivity due to the synergy of materials present in the nanocomposite particle. In this review, a comprehensive survey on the synthesis and optical characterization of different blended and hybrid nanocomposite nanofluids have been performed. Besides, works on different mono nanofluids that have been studied over the years have been reviewed.

Nanofluids for Direct-Absorption Solar Collectors—DASCs: A Review on Recent Progress and Future Perspectives

“…While NPs dispersed in the base fluids are often made from the same type of NP, i.e., single-component NF, multicomponent NFs have also been widely investigated, where the NPs in the NF are made of different materials and/or have different sizes, and/or shapes. While there are initial claims of broader absorption features, multicomponent NFs have shown to add nonnegligible complexity to the NF preparation with limited benefits [ 53 , 54 ].…”

CFD modeling of a triple‐walled direct absorption evacuated tube solar collector based on hybrid nanofluid/microencapsulated PCM

“…This class of nanofluids demonstrated superior thermal conductivity qualities when compared to mono nanofluids 22,23 . Hybrid nanofluids are also widely used as the working fluids of DASCs 24 . Numerical simulation of a DAPTC using hybrid CuO‐MWCNT/water, MWCNT/water, and CuO/water nanofluids revealed that 40.44, 39.01, and 30.8 GJ embodied energy and 59.03, 56.95, and 44.96 KL embodied water are saved, respectively 25 .…”

“…22,23 Hybrid nanofluids are also widely used as the working fluids of DASCs. 24 Numerical simulation of a DAPTC using hybrid CuO-MWCNT/ water, MWCNT/water, and CuO/water nanofluids revealed that 40.44, 39.01, and 30.8 GJ embodied energy and 59.03, 56.95, and 44.96 KL embodied water are saved, respectively. 25 Li et al 26 conducted an experimental investigation to evaluate the solar-thermal conversion performance of EG-based SiC-MWCNTs nanofluids for DASC.…”

Enhancing high-speed CNC milling performance of Ti6Al4V alloy through the application of ZnO-Ag hybrid nanofluids

“…Recently, researchers have been working on development of novel hybrid nanofluid for better thermophysical properties for various applications. Hybrid nanofluids, comprising a blend of two or more nanomaterials, exhibit remarkable synergistic characteristics when contrasted with single-component nanofluids [23]. Synthesis of hybrid nanofluids can be achieved through either a singular or a dual-step approach.…”