Experimental analysis of thermal energy variations in parabolic dish solar collector with hybrid heat storage medium

Ravi Saravanan, Alagu Karthikeyan, Prajith Prabhakar and N. Poyyamozhi

Renewable Energy, 2025, vol. 251, issue C

Abstract: This study tests a solar thermal system for household hot water, combining a parabolic dish collector with a dual-purpose heat storage medium. It examines how factors like heating fluid flow rate, storage material composition, and cold-water flow rate impact heat transfer efficiency. Distilled water was used as the heat transfer fluid, while a mixture of Erythritol and 1.5 wt % Co3O4 nanoparticles served as the heat storage medium, capturing solar energy during the day and releasing it at night. The system performed best when the solar receiver absorbed 77.5 W of heat at a flow rate of 0.5 l/min. Heat transfer efficiency improved as the flow rate increased to 2 l/min but declined beyond this point. The maximum storage capacity was 220 W using only Erythritol, but adding Co3O4 nanoparticles enhanced efficiency by boosting thermal conductivity. Cold-water flow rates between 0.5 l/min and 2 l/min affected convective heat transfer, with lower rates reducing efficiency. The system's peak performance occurred between 06:00 and 14:00 due to direct solar radiation. While individual components had lower exergy values, the overall system demonstrated a high sustainability index, effectively storing and delivering solar energy for continuous water heating.

Keywords: Hybrid heat storage; Co3O4 nanoparticles; Erythritol; Thermal energy; Parabolic dish solar collector (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:251:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125010985

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123436

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