Electrokinetic energy conversion of nanofluids in MHD-based microtube

Zhiyong Xie and Yongjun Jian

Energy, 2020, vol. 212, issue C

Abstract: The electrokinetic energy conversion of nanofluids is investigated theoretically in this study without consideration of overlapping electric double layer (EDL). Lorentz force is the only actuation mechanism, instead of classical pressure gradient, to generate streaming potential or streaming current in the present energy conversion microfluidic system. The analytical expressions of streaming potential, output power and energy conversion efficiency are derived. Result shows that introducing nanoparticles into the working electrolyte can enhance not only output power but also energy conversion efficiency for a given ionic molar concentration when the radius of microtube is much larger than EDL thickness. Besides, the maximum output power of electrolyte containing 5 vol% of nanoparticles can be improved by >16% compared with that of electrolyte without nanoparticles. Unlike the classical pressure driven flow, this work provides an alternative method to simultaneously improve both the output electrical power and conversion efficiency.

Keywords: Energy conversion; Output power; Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD); Streaming potential; Nanofluids (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:212:y:2020:i:c:s0360544220318193

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2020.118711

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