Solar thermal power generation characteristics based on metal foam and phase change materials doped with nanoparticles

Abstract

Due to the low photoelectric conversion efficiency caused by the low thermal conductivity of pure paraffin, hence, solar thermal power generation characteristics based on metal foam and phase change materials doped with nanoparticles were experimentally investigated to improve the photoelectric conversion efficiency. The effects of solar light intensity (I=600 mw/cm2, 700 mw/cm2, 800 mw/cm2, 900 mw/cm2, 1000 mw/cm2), light angle (θ = 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°) and nanoparticle concentration (ω = 0 %, 0.5 %, 0.8 %, 1.0 %) on the power generation characteristics were discussed. Results showed that paraffin doped with nanoparticles (ω = 1.0 %) can increase the hot end temperature of daylighting device by 4.86 % at most compared with pure paraffin. The maximum output power increases with the light intensity, light angle and nanoparticle concentration, and the maximum increase ratios can reach 37.88 %, 14.07 % and 22.31 % respectively. The research is useful for the design and application of solar thermal power generation equipment.