Enhancing the Thermal Performance of Parabolic Trough Collectors Using Nano-Enhanced Absorber Coatings: A Comparative Study of Fe۳O۴, Al۲O۳ and Hybrid Fe۳O۴- Al۲O۳ Coatings

Solar thermal systems use parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) to concentrate sunlight on an absorber tube to create heat for various applications. They are efficient but have optical losses, heat dissipation, and reduced performance owing to dust and high-emissivity coatings. Hence, nanomaterials can improve absorber coatings' heat retention and energy efficiency. This research paper is an examination of the impact of nano-enhanced coating on PTC thermal characteristics. The various types of coating were a hybrid coating of Fe۳O۴-Al۲O۳ nano-enhanced coating, Fe۳O۴ nano-enhanced coating, Al۲O۳ nano-enhanced coating and black matte tested in their effects on energy and exergy efficiency, heat absorption, and fluid outlet temperature. It was found that the hybrid Fe۳O۴-Al۲O۳ coating recorded the highest of ۸۱.۵ ᵒC fluid outlet temperature, maximum of ۳۱۸۶.۴ W heat absorption, thermal efficiency of ۷۹.۳۸% or exergy efficiency of ۴۲.۸۸%. Fe۳O۴ was selected because it has a high optical absorption, and Al۲O۳ was selected because it has a high thermal conductivity, which allows heat transfer to be efficient and losses to be reduced. The most ineffective one was black matte coating because the highest ۵۹.۴ᵒC fluid temperature and ۴۲.۵۷% thermal efficiency. Therefore, the nanomaterials enhance the power of PTC and this indicates that the materials have the possibility of maximizing the utilization of solar energy. The researchers established that solar thermal collector performance can be increased with the use of advanced nano-coatings, including the Fe۳O۴-Al۲O۳ hybrid and facilitation of the renewable, efficient, and sustainable renewable energy systems.

کلیدواژه ها:

Sustainable ، solar ، Energy ، Exergy ، Efficiency ، nanoparticles