Experimental Investigation on the Effect of Iron Oxide(〖Fe〗_3 O_4) Nanofluid on the Thermal Efficiency of Flat-Plate Solar Collectors in the Building

Nowadays, considering the limitations of fossil fuels, using optimization methods such as nanofluids for increasing the efficiency of solar water heaters has received a significant attention. In this study, the effects of nanofluid iron oxide with a mixture of 50% water volume and propylene glycol base fluid, as the working fluid in the solar flat plate collectors, were experimentally investigated. Nanofluid iron oxide nanoparticles at three different mass concentrations and in three volumetric flow rate have been experimented. All tests were done on cloudless, clear days in summer, and in Hav ā khurshid Research Institute at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Results indicate the proper potential of nanofluid iron oxide (magnetite) in enhancing the thermal efficiency of solar flat plate collector, as the most important component of solar water heaters, as the maximum efficiency increase of 12% was noticed.