Investigation of Solar Heat Pipe Collector Using Nanofluid and Surfactant

The basic aim of conducted experiments was to investigate the thermal performance of serpentine shape thermosyphon heat pipe flat plate solar collector under real operating conditions. Distil water, (Al2O3-water) nanofluid with varying concentrations (0.05, 0.25 and 0.5 by wt), (Al2O3-water) + surfactant, water + surfactant were used as working fluids. Effect of coolant rate, concentration of nanomaterial on performance of solar heat pipe collector was studied experimentally for different tilt angles. Collector wastested for tilt angles (18.53, 33.5, 40, 50 and 60˚). Nanofluids of Al2O3 nanoparticles by wt having average size <50 nm dispersed in water with different concentrations by two step process. Two step processes comprising of magnetic string and ultra-sonication is used. From results it is observed that as the efficiency of the collector increases as coolant flow rate increases upto certain limit, then decreases. Also similar trend is observed for tilt angle and it is found maximum at 50˚. Surfactant, Surfactant-Nanofluids, nanofluids as working fluid in the heat pipe collector gives better performance as compared pure water and performance enhances with increase in the concentration of the nanofluid.