Application of Fe3O4/Silica hybrid nanofluid as working fluid of direct absorption solar collector

In this study, the performance of direct absorption solar collector is experimentally investigated using Fe3O4/Silica hybrid nanofluid based on deionized water. First, stability of prepared nanofluids is considered using spectral absorbency method. Then, spectrophotometry method is used for measuring optical properties of nanofluids. A prototype of this new type of collector was built with applicability for solar water heating systems. The procedure of EN 12975-2 standard was used for testing the thermal performance of the collector. Results show that collector efficiency is enhanced by nanofluid concentration, so that collector maximum efficiency is 73.9%, 79.8% and 83.7%using nanofluid with concentration of 500 ppm, 1000 ppm and 2000 ppm, respec/tively. This vaule is 63% using the base fluid as working fluid. Regarding very low volume fractions of nanofluids used in direct absorption solar collectors, the viscosity of the base fluid experience insignificant increase, therefore, pumping power will not increase significsantly. Such increase in efficiency show that direct absorption solar collector performance using hybrid nanofluid is much better than that of using the water at the same operating conditions. Application of stable hybrid nanofluid results in higher conversion efficiency of solar energy to useful energy.