EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF SOLAR COLLECTOR WITH NANO SIZED MATERIALS

Abstract

Carbon and metal oxide based coatings are widely used for photo thermal conversion. The collectors collect the sun’s energy, transform this radiation into heat, and then transfer this heat into a fluid, water or air, which has many applications in household and industries. In the present investigation, carbon and metal oxide based coatings were prepared and the coatings were affected on metal absorbers. The coatings on the metal absorbers were characterized and it was found that the sizes of constituents in the coatings were in nanoranges. The coated absorbers were integrated in solar collectors and the thermal efficiency of the solar heating collectors was experimentally found. It was found that the thermal enhancements in working fluid varied from 18.4 to 25.5 0C, 19.0 to 26.90C and 22.3 and 29.90C in solar collectors with three different nano-structured absorbers. It was also found that the thermal performances of these solar heating collectors were as per standard specifications. The research revealed that the thermal performances of the solar heating collector with nano-structured absorbers were 1.2%, 1.4% and 1.5% higher than that of the conventional solar heating collector. On the basis of the research outcomes of the present investigation, it could be concluded that the nanosized carbon and metal oxide coated absorbers would be utilized in solar collectors so as to harvest their enhanced thermal performances.