Experimental analysis of thermal performance of solar collector using CuO-H2O nanofluid

Abstract

The peak performance of a solar collector with flat plate is increased by via Nano fluid which acts as a heat transfer layer. The thermal behaviour of solar collector while using nanofluids as heat transfer medium can be analysed using experimental or suitable numerical techniques. Experimental analysis is considered as prime important in the scientific society by providing opportunity to test theoretical hypothesis and physical statements of a problem. It gives average output values for the given input values of a system or process. In this work, experimental analysis of solar collector is performed using water and copper oxide-water (CuO-H2O) nanofluid as heat transfer medium with various concentrations of nanoparticle such as 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3% mass fractions. Water and CuO nanofluid are circulated with 0.016kg/s and 0.033kg/s mass flow rate. The analysis done for this presentation claims the effectual property of CuO nanofluid containing various mass fractions of nanoparticle on collector outlet temperature, rate of heat transfer and efficiency is better than water. The pressure drop across the solar collector is more in CuO nanofluid due to its high density and viscosity.