Photothermal Conversion Performance of Fe[sub.3]O[sub.4]/ATO Hybrid Nanofluid for Direct Absorption Solar Collector

• Published in: Energies (Basel) 2024-10, Vol.17 (20)
• Main Authors: Ham, Jeonggyun, Kim, Hyemin, Cho, Honghyun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Force and energy; Optical properties; Solar collectors
• ISSN: 1996-1073; 1996-1073
• DOI: 10.3390/en17205059

In order to enhance the efficiency of direct absorption solar collectors, this study carried out an experimental analysis about the optical and photothermal conversion performance of Fe[sub.3]O[sub.4], ATO (Antimony-doped tin oxide), and Fe[sub.3]O[sub.4]/ATO nanofluids with a total concentration of 0.1 wt%. According to the results of the experiments, Fe[sub.3]O[sub.4] nanofluid outperforms ATO nanofluid in terms of optical absorption; nevertheless, at wavelengths shorter than 600 nm, it also shows significant scattering reflection. The solar-weighted absorption coefficient of Fe[sub.3]O[sub.4]/ATO nanofluid rose from 0.863 (m[sub.Fe3O4]/m[sub.Total]= 0.2) to 0.932 (m[sub.Fe3O4]/m[sub.Total]= 0.8) when the optical path length increased from 0.01 m to 0.06 m. Moreover, the Fe[sub.3]O[sub.4]/ATO hybrid nanofluid achieved a photothermal conversion efficiency of 0.932 when the mass ratio of Fe[sub.3]O[sub.4] to total mass was 0.2, surpassing the efficiencies of 0.892 and 0.898 recorded for 0.1 wt% ATO and Fe[sub.3]O[sub.4] nanofluids, respectively. When present together, the opposing optical characteristics of Fe[sub.3]O[sub.4] and ATO boost photothermal conversion performance, which is anticipated to raise the efficiency of direct absorption solar collectors.