Pressure drop characteristics and efficiency enhancement by using TiO<sub align="right">2-H<sub align="right">2O nanofluid in a sustainable solar thermal energy collector

Abstract

Titania nanofluid is procured and six different volumes fractions are prepared and homogenised. The nanofluid is subjected to experimental study in a built sustainable solar thermal energy collector model. Theoretical models for the calculation of pressure drop are used and the values are compared with results obtained using experimental setup. The experimental values obtained are on the higher side. At a volume fraction of 3% of the titania nanofluid, the collector exhibited thermal efficiency of 56% with a pressure drop of 16 mm of water column. This is compared with values using water with 28% thermal efficiency at a pressure drop of 4.5 mm of water column. Finally, a model is developed to predict the pressure drop and thermal efficiency by using TiO2-H2O nanofluid in a solar thermal energy collector.