Chapter 15 - Use of nanofluids in solar energy systems

Abstract

The world expects universal problems in connection with the coming energy crisis. Energy-related problems can be analyzed from two perspectives. Initially, these energies have had devastating effects on the environment. Global warming poses a serious threat to the Earth’s ecosystem. The greenhouse effects of fossil fuels play a major role in global warming. This phenomenon has many effects on the Earth’s atmosphere and does not allow sunlight to be reflected outside the Earth’s atmosphere. Thus the continuation of the current trend in the indiscriminate use of fossil resources is considered a serious threat to life on Earth. Second, current strategic energy sources, such as fossil fuels, cannot be renewed. Thus one of the most important ideas for replacing fossil fuels is the use of solar energy, which is trapped by radiation-absorbing receptors and stored as heat or electricity. This chapter focuses on devices that could receive solar thermal energy. Here, different types of receivers as well as one of the most important passive methods available in increasing the efficiency of solar energy absorption, namely the use of nanofluids as the working fluid, have been investigated. Finally, a short review will be performed on solar stills. However, an overview shows that there are very few registered studies on the effect of nanofluid on solar stills, and therefore further extensive research is needed.