Nanotechnology Applications for Solar Energy Systems

Nanotechnology Applications for Solar Energy Systems Understand the latest developments in solar nanotechnology with this comprehensive guide Solar energy has never seemed a more critical component of humanity’s future. As global researchers and industries work to develop sustainable technologies and energy sources worldwide, the need to increase efficiency and decrease costs becomes paramount. Nanotechnology has the potential to play a considerable role in meeting these challenges, leading to the development of solar energy systems that overcome the limitations of existing technologies. Nanotechnology Applications for Solar Energy Systems is a comprehensive guide to the latest technological advancements and applications of nanotechnology in the field of solar energy. It analyzes nanotechnology applications across a full range of solar energy systems, reviewing feasible technological advancements for enhanced performance of solar energy devices, and discussing emerging nanomaterials such as graphene and graphene derivatives. Nanotechnology Applications for Solar Energy Systems readers will also find: Detailed treatment of nanotechnology applications in systems including solar concentrating collectors, linear Fresnel reflectors, parabolic trough collectors, and more Coverage of methods to enhance the performance of solar energy devices including solar ponds and solar steam generators A comprehensive review of nanomaterials classification and the properties of nanomaterials in heat transfer and efficiency enhancement Nanotechnology Applications for Solar Energy Systems is critical for researchers in fields related to solar energy, engineers and industry professionals developing solar technology, and academics working in related fields such as chemistry, physics, materials science, and electrical engineering.

Table of Contents:
About the Editor xiii List of Contributors xv Preface xix 1 Solar Energy Applications 1 Swati Singh, Punit Singh, and Zafar Said 1.1 Introduction and Recent Advances 1 1.2 Solar Energy Applications 5 1.2.1 Electricity Production Using Photovoltaics at Large Scale 5 1.2.2 Small-Scale Electricity Production for Houses and Commercial Buildings 6 1.2.3 Off-Grid Applications Using Photovoltaics 6 1.2.4 Concentrating Solar Thermal Electricity 7 1.2.5 Solar Thermochemical Processes 7 1.2.6 Solar Water Heating 8 1.2.7 Heating of Solar Architecture 8 1.2.8 Air Conditioning Through Water Evaporation 8 1.2.9 Artificial Photosynthesis 9 1.2.10 Decomposing Waste and Biofuels Production 9 1.3 Classification of Solar Energy Devices 10 1.3.1 Concentrating Solar Power 10 1.3.2 Building Integrated Solar Systems 10 1.3.3 Solar-Thermal Collectors 11 1.3.4 Solar Thermochemistry 11 1.3.5 Solar Thermal Energy Storage 12 1.3.6 Solar-Driven Water Distillation 12 1.4 Benefits and Opportunities 13 1.5 Challenges 16 1.6 Future Aspects 18 1.7 Conclusion 18 References 19 2 Application of Nanofluid for Solar Stills 25 Mohammad Javad Raji Asadabadi , Mohsen Sheikholeslami, and Ladan Momayez 2.1 Introduction 25 2.2 Desalination Technology 25 2.2.1 What is a Solar Still? 26 2.2.2 Parameters Affecting Pure Water Yield of Basin Type SSs 27 2.2.3 Pure Water Augmentation of Solar Still Units 28 2.3 Nanofluid 33 2.3.1 Nanofluid Basics 34 2.3.2 Nanofluid Characteristics 35 2.3.3 Nanofluid Application in Solar Desalination 35 References 43 3 Classification of Concentrating Solar Collectors Based on Focusing Shape and Studying on Their Performance, Financial Evaluation, and Industrial Adoption 49 Z. Ebrahimpour and Mark Mba-Wright 3.1 Introduction 49 3.1.1 Overview of Concentrating Solar Collectors 49 3.1.2 Some of the Applications of Concentrating Solar Collectors 50 3.2 Line Focus Concentrating Solar Collectors 51 3.2.1 Linear Fresnel Reflector 51 3.2.2 Parabolic Trough Collector 53 3.2.3 Compound Parabolic 55 3.3 Point Focus and Other Concentrating Solar Collectors 57 3.3.1 Central Receiver System 57 3.3.2 Solar Dish 59 3.3.3 Fresnel Lens 60 3.4 Improving the Thermal Performance of Solar Concentrating Collectors 62 3.5 Industrial Adoption and Costs of Solar Concentrating Collectors 63 3.6 Conclusions and Recommendations 63 References 66 4 Nanotechnology for Heat Transfer 71 Zafar Said , Maham Aslam Sohail, and Evangelos Bellos 4.1 Introduction 71 4.2 Classification of Nanomaterials 72 4.2.1 Zero-dimensional (0D) 72 4.2.2 One-dimensional (1D) 72 4.2.3 Two-dimensional (2D) 72 4.2.4 Three-dimensional (3D) 73 4.3 Heat Transfer Characteristics and Applications of Nanotechnology on the Heat Transfer Enhancement 73 4.3.1 Convective Heat Transfer 75 4.3.2 Boiling Heat Transfer 77 4.3.3 Thermal Conductivity 77 4.3.4 Viscosity 78 4.4 A Review of Studies and Recent Advances Using Nanomaterials in Energy Conversion, Energy Storage, and Heat Transfer Development 79 4.5 Recent Advances 79 4.6 Challenges and Future Scope 86 4.7 Conclusion 87 References 87 5 Nanofluids in Linear Fresnel Reflector 99 Evangelos Bellos, Zafar Said, and Christos Tzivanidis 5.1 Introduction and Recent Advances of Linear Fresnel Reflectors 99 5.2 The Idea of Using Nanofluids in Solar Collectors 108 5.3 A Review of Studies with Nanofluid-based Linear Fresnel Reflector 112 5.4 Remarks and Future Scope 118 5.4.1 Advantages of LFR 118 5.4.2 Disadvantages of LFR 118 5.5 Conclusions 121 References 121 6 Thermal Management and Performance Enhancement of Parabolic Trough Concentrators Using Nanofluids 125 Muhammed A. Hassan 6.1 Introduction 125 6.2 Recent Advances of Parabolic Trough Collectors 127 6.3 Application of Nanofluids in PTCs 131 6.4 State-of-Art Studies on Using Nanofluids in Parabolic Trough Collectors 136 6.5 Conclusions and Future Scope 139 References 142 7 Developing Innovations in Parabolic Trough Collectors (PTCs) Based on Numerical Studies 145 Sanaz Akbarzadeh, Maziar Dehghan, Mohammad Sadegh Valipour, and Huijin Xu 7.1 Introduction 145 7.2 An Introduction to Simulation Software 148 7.3 Numerical Studies 148 7.3.1 Design Parameters and Working Conditions in PTCs 150 7.3.2 Using Inserts in PTCs 154 7.3.3 Using Surface Modification Methods in PTCs 157 7.3.4 Using Nanofluids in PTCs 160 7.3.5 Using Nanofluids and Other Passive Methods in PTCs 162 7.3.6 PTCs Integrated into Cooling Systems 165 7.3.7 PTCs Integrated into Concentrated Solar Power Plants 166 7.3.8 PTCs Integrated into Solar-powered Cycles 168 7.3.9 PTCs Integrated into Solar Industrial Process Heat Plants 170 7.3.10 PTCs Integrated into Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T) System 175 7.3.11 PTCs Integrated into Desalination Systems 175 7.4 Challenges 179 7.5 Conclusion 179 7.6 Future Directions 183 References 183 8 Nanofluids in Solar Thermal Parabolic Trough Collectors (PTCs) 191 Maziar Dehghan, Sanaz Akbarzadeh, Mohammad Sadegh Valipour, and Hafiz Muhammad Ali 8.1 Introduction 191 8.2 Fundamentals of PTCs 194 8.2.1 Components of a PTC 194 8.2.2 Mathematical Formulations of PTCs 195 8.2.3 Experimental Analysis (Standard Test Methods) 203 8.3 Heat Transfer Fluids (HTFs) in PTCs 203 8.3.1 Thermal Oils 204 8.3.2 Liquid-water Steam 204 8.3.3 Pressurized Gasses 204 8.3.4 Molten Salts 204 8.3.5 Nanofluids 204 8.4 Heat Transfer Improvement Methods in PTCs 206 8.4.1 Design Parameters 206 8.4.2 The Application of Nanofluids in PTCs 208 8.4.3 Combination of Nanofluids and Other Thermal Efficiency Enhancement Methods 219 8.5 Economic Analysis 225 8.6 Challenges 228 8.7 Conclusion 228 8.8 Future Directions 229 Acknowledgment 230 References 230 9 Applications of Nanotechnology in the Harvesting of Solar Energy 239 Seyede Mohaddese Mousavi, Zahra Sayah Alborzi, Saba Raveshiyan, and Younes Amini 9.1 Introduction 239 9.1.1 Overview of the Status of the Solar Energy 239 9.1.2 Nanotechnology Overview 240 9.2 Solar Harvesting Technology Using Nanomaterials 242 9.3 Various Modern Solar Harvesting Technologies 242 9.3.1 Solar Collectors 242 9.3.2 Fuel Cells 243 9.3.3 Photocatalysis 243 9.3.4 Solar Photovoltaics 246 9.4 Production Methods of Solar Cell Technology 247 9.4.1 First Generation Solar Cell: Silicon Solar Cells 247 9.4.2 Second Generation Solar Cells: Thin-film Solar Cell 248 9.4.3 Third Generation Solar Cells 250 9.5 Challenges in Using Nanotechnology 251 9.6 Conclusion 252 References 253 10 Tubular Solar Thermal System: Recent Development and Its Utilization 257 Arun Kumar Tiwari and Amit Kumar 10.1 Introduction 257 10.2 Different Tubular Solar System 258 10.2.1 Evacuated Tubular Collector 258 10.2.2 Tubular Solar Still 259 10.2.3 Tubular System for Concentrating Solar Power 262 10.3 Heat Transfer Fluid for the Tubular System 264 10.3.1 Nanofluid 264 10.3.2 Nano-enhanced Molten Salt 264 10.3.3 Liquid Metal 265 10.4 Conclusion 266 References 266 11 Nanofluids in Flat Plate Solar Collectors 273 L. Syam Sundar and Zafar Said 11.1 Nanofluid in Flat Plate Collector 273 11.2 Introduction and Recent Advances of Flat Plate Collectors 273 11.3 Application of Nanofluids in the Flat Plate Collector 276 11.4 A Review of Studies Using Nanomaterials in Flat Pale Collector 281 11.5 Remarks and Future Scope 284 11.6 Conclusion 284 References 285 12 Recent Advances in the Simulation of Solar Photovoltaic Cell Cooling Systems Using Nanofluids 289 Javad Mohammadpour and Fatemeh Salehi 12.1 Introduction 289 12.2 Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) System 291 12.3 Performance Parameters 291 12.4 An Overview of Numerical Approaches 292 12.5 Previous Research on PVT Systems 294 12.5.1 PVT Nanofluid-Based Systems 294 12.5.2 PVT Multiple-Nanofluid-Based Systems 295 12.5.3 PVT/ PCM Nanofluid-Based Systems 298 12.5.4 Economic Analysis in PVT Studies 299 12.6 Future Works 304 12.7 Conclusions 306 References 306 13 Multiphase Modeling of Powder Flow in an Ejector of Solar-driven Refrigeration System by Eulerian-Lagrangian Approach 313 Mohit Biglarian, Ahmadreza Najafi, Morsal Momeni Larimi, and Masih Parhizkari 13.1 Introduction 313 13.2 Governing Equations 314 13.2.1 Continuity Equation 314 13.2.2 Momentum Equation 314 13.3 Geometry Design and Meshing 315 13.3.1 Generation of the Model 315 13.3.2 Mesh Generation and Study 315 13.3.3 Grid Independency 318 13.3.4 Validation 319 13.4 Results 319 13.4.1 Optimization of the Nozzle 319 13.4.2 Investigation of the Relation between Outlet Velocity and Entrainment Parameter (N) 326 13.4.3 Unsteady Case 327 13.5 Conclusion 335 Declaration of interests 335 References 335 14 Radiative Non-Newtonian Nanofluid Flow through Stretchable Disks: An Application to Solar Thermal Systems 337 S. A. Shehzad, A. Rauf, and M. Omar 14.1 Introduction 337 14.2 Problem Formulation 339 14.3 Numerical Solution 343 14.4 Results and Discussion 344 14.5 Conclusions 351 References 352 15 Cooling of PV/ T System with Nanofluid and PCM 355 Mohit Barthwal, Dibakar Rakshit, and Sujit Kr. Verma 15.1 Introduction 355 15.1.1 Overview 355 15.1.2 Need for Cooling of Photovoltaics 356 15.2 Application of Nanofluid and PCM for Cooling of PV/T System 359 15.2.1 Nanofluids 359 15.2.2 Phase Change Materials 360 15.3 A Review of Studies Using Nanofluid and PCM for Cooling of PV/T System 361 15.4 Remarks and Future Scope 374 15.5 Conclusion 376 Acknowledgment 376 References 377 16 Revival of Functional Nanofluid Photothermal Materials for Solar Still Applications 381 Muhammad Sultan Irshad, Naila Arshad, and Xianbao Wang 16.1 Nanofluid Based Solar Stills 381 16.2 General Factors for Efficient Solar Still 384 16.2.1 Environmental Factors 384 16.2.2 Physical Factors 385 16.3 Development and Modifications 386 16.3.1 Conventional Single-effect Solar Still 386 16.3.2 Solar Reflectors 387 16.3.3 Wicked Type Solar Stills 388 16.4 Application of Nanofluids in Solar Still 388 16.4.1 Methodologies for the Fabrication of Nanofluids 389 16.4.2 Optical Properties of Nanofluids 389 16.4.3 Photothermal of Nanofluids 391 16.5 Carbon-based Nanofluid 391 16.6 Metallic/ Metal Oxide Nanofluids 392 16.7 Magnetic Nanofluids 394 16.8 Solar Thermal Collectors 395 16.9 Solar-driven Steam Generators 397 16.10 Remarks and Future Scope 398 16.11 Conclusion 399 References 400 17 Nanotechnology in Solar Lighting 403 Chao Shen, Changyun Ruan, and Guoquan lv 17.1 Optical Fiber Lighting Based on Sunlight 403 17.2 Radiation Properties of Nanoparticles 405 17.3 Spectral Control of Nanofluid 406 17.3.1 Full Spectrum Absorption Based on Nanofluids 406 17.3.2 Thermal/Electrical Decoupling Control Based on Nanofluids 407 17.4 Design of a Solar Lighting/Heating System 408 17.5 Selection of Nanofluids for the Solar Lighting/Heating System 409 17.6 System Efficiency of the Solar Lighting/Heating System 410 17.7 Spectral Characteristics of Output Light of the Solar Lighting/Heating System 411 17.8 Future Research 413 17.9 Conclusion 414 References 415 Index 421

About the Author :
Mohsen Sheikholeslami, PhD is Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Head of the Renewable Energy Systems and Nanofluid Applications in Heat Transfer Laboratory at Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran. He has been selected three times as a Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher, and has published widely on nanomaterials and energy transfer.