The thermal performance of a flat-plate solar collector (FPSC) using novel heat transfer fluids of aqueous colloidal dispersions of covalently functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes with β-Alanine (Ala-MWCNTs) has been studied. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with outside diameters of (< 8 nm) and (20–30 nm) having specific surface areas (SSAs) of (500 m2/g) and (110 m2/g), respectively, were utilized. For each Ala-MWCNTs, waterbased nanofluids were synthesized using weight concentrations of 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.075%, and 0.1%. A MATLAB code was built and a test rig was designed and developed. Heat flux intensities of 600, 800, and 1000 W/m2; mass flow rates of 0.6, 1.0, and 1.4 kg/min; and inlet fluid temperatures of 30, 40, and 50°C were used to perform the test runs. Using water and nanofluids, the efficiency of the FPSC was found to increase with the increase in heat flux intensity and flow rate, and decrease with the increase in inlet fluid temperature. When applying nanofluids in the FPSC and as weight concentration and SSA increased, a reduction in the values of absorber plate temperature (AP) and tube wall temperature (TW) was observed down to 2.86% and 3.03%, respectively, while the FPSC’s efficiency increased up to 9.55% for 0.1-wt% Ala-MWCNTs < 8 nm at 1.4 kg/min, compared with water. Good agreement was obtained between the experimental values and MATLAB code predictions for AP, TW, and efficiency with maximum differences of 3.02%, 3.19%, and 3.26% for water, and 4.24%, 3.94%, and 12.64% for nanofluids, respectively. Consequently, the MATLAB code was judged suitable for modeling the nanofluid-based FPSC with suitable precision. It was proved that the positive effects of using nanofluids in the FPSC were higher their negative effects on pressure drop because all the calculated values of performance index (PI) were more than 1. As weight concentration and SSA increased, PI increased up to 1.095 for 0.1-wt% Ala-MWCNTs < 8 nm. Therefore, it was concluded that the nanofluids considered in this research can usefully be employed as working fluids in FPSCs for improved thermal performance, and the 0.1-wt% water-based Ala-MWCNTs < 8 nm nanofluid was fairly the distinguished one.
This study numerically intends to evaluate the effects of arc-shaped fins on the melting capability of a triplex-tube confinement system filled with phase-change materials (PCMs). In contrast to situations with no fins, where PCM exhibits relatively poor heat response, in this study, the thermal performance is modified using novel arc-shaped fins with various circular angles and orientations compared with traditional rectangular fins. Several inline and staggered layouts are also assessed to maximize the fin’s efficacy. The effect of the nearby natural convection is further investigated by adding a fin to the bottom of the heat-storage domain. Additionally, the Reynolds number and temperature of the heat-transfer fluid (HTF) are e
... Show MoreA cantilevered piezoelectric beam with a tip mass at its free end is a common energy harvester configuration. This paper introduces a new principle of designing such a harvester which increases the generated voltage without changing the natural frequency of the harvester: The attraction force between two permanent magnets is used to add stiffness to the system. This magnetic stiffening counters the effect of the tip mass on the natural frequency. Three setups incorporating piezoelectric bimorph cantilevers of the same type in different mechanical configurations are compared theoretically and experimentally to investigate the feasibility of this principle. Theoretical and experimental results show that magnetically stiffe
... Show MoreThis research estimates the effect of independent factors like filler (3%, 6%, 9%, 11% weight fraction), normal load (5N, 10N, 15N), and time sliding (5,7 , 9 minutes) on wear behavior of unsaturated polyester resin reinforced with jute fiber and waste eggshell and, rice husk powder composites by utilizing a statistical approach. The specimens polymeric composite prepared from resin unsaturated polyester filled with (4% weight fraction) jute fiber, and (3%, 6%, 9%, 11% weight fraction) eggshell, and rice husk by utilizing (hand lay-up) molding. Dry sliding wear experiments were carried utilizing a standard (pin on disc test setup) following a well designed empirical schedule that depends on Taguchi’s experimental design L9 (MINIT
... Show MoreOne of the main parts in hydraulic system is directional control valve, which is needed in order to operate hydraulic actuator. Practically, a conventional directional control valve has complex construction and moving parts, such as spool. Alternatively, a proposed Magneto-rheological (MR) directional control valve can offer a better solution without any moving parts by means of MR fluid. MR fluid consists of stable suspension of micro-sized magnetic particles dispersed in carrier medium like hydrocarbon oil. The main objectives of this present research are to design a MR directional control valve using MR fluid, to analyse its magnetic circuit using FEMM software, and to study and simulate the performance of this valve. In this research, a
... Show MoreThe CIGS/CdS p-n junction thin films were fabricated and deposited at room temperature with rate of deposition 5, and 6 nm secG1 , on ITO glass substrates with 1mm thickness by thermal evaporation technique at high vacuum pressure 2×10G5 mbar, with area of 1 cm2 and Aluminum electrode as back contact. The thickness of absorber layer (CIGS) was 1 µm while the thickness of the window layer CdS film was 300 nm. The X-ray Diffraction results have shown that all thin films were polycrystalline with orientation of 112 and 211 for CIGS thin films and 111 for CdS films. The direct energy gaps for CIGS and CdS thin films were 1.85 and 2.4 eV, respectively. Atomic Force Microscopy measurement proves that both films CIGS and CdS films have nanostru
... Show MoreA sensitivity-turbidimetric method at (0-180o) was used for detn. of mebeverine in drugs by two solar cell and six source with C.F.I.A.. The method was based on the formation of ion pair for the pinkish banana color precipitate by the reaction of Mebeverine hydrochloride with Phosphotungstic acid. Turbidity was measured via the reflection of incident light that collides on the surface particles of precipitated at 0-180o. All variables were optimized. The linearity ranged of Mebeverine hydrochloride was 0.05-12.5mmol.L-1, the L.D. (S/N= 3)(3SB) was 521.92 ng/sample depending on dilution for the minimum concentration , with correlation coefficient r = 0.9966while was R.S.D%
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