Utilization of H2O/CuO and Syltherm 800/CuO Nanofluids in a Concentrating Solar Collector with Photovoltaic Elements

Abstract

This study examined the performance of a concentrating solar collector with an asymmetric reflector. Two receivers were investigated, differing in the presence of photovoltaic cells. The first one was equipped with cells on both sides while the other was without cells. The analysis was performed using a numerical model that integrates a combination of three-dimensional optical and thermal analyses developed in COMSOL. The investigation included studying the influence of CuO/water and CuO/Syltherm 800 nanofluids on the thermal performance for the receiver without photovoltaic elements, as well as on both thermal and electrical efficiencies for the hybrid receiver. Two volumetric concentrations of CuO in water and Syltherm 800, 3% and 5%, were explored with varying inlet temperatures, ranging from 20 °C to 80 °C for the hybrid solar unit and from 20 °C to 140 °C for the thermal solar unit. The outcomes of the examination were compared between the nanofluids and the pure base fluid. Properly pressurized water was considered in the case without photovoltaic elements.