Nanomaterial & Nanofluid Applications in Solar Collector - A Review

Abstract

The aim of the present paper is to acknowledge the utility of nano-materials and nanofluids in various type of solar collectors. The enhancement in the performance of solar devices is one of the key issues around the world. Numbers of researches have been performed in the field of heat transfer during the past years. These researches lead to the development of various techniques used to enhance the performance of various solar collectors by use of nanofluids. Nanofluids are the fluids which contains nanosized solid particles in the suspended form. These nanosized particles enhance the heat transfer characteristics of base fluid. If compared with conventional heat transfer fluids, these nanofluids have got better heat transfer properties. Nano-materials used for making the nanofluids in the present study are Al2O3 (Aliminium oxide), TiO2 (Titanium oxide) MWCNT (Multi-wall carbon nanotube) and CNT. On the basis of various reviews, it was found that nanofluids has shown considerable potential to improve the performance of collectors.