Recent Advancements in Evacuated Tube Solar Water Heaters: A Critical Review of the Integration of Phase Change Materials and Nanofluids with ETCs

Arun Uniyal, Yogesh K. Prajapati, Lalit Ranakoti, Prabhakar Bhandari, Tej Singh, Brijesh Gangil, Shubham Sharma (), Viyat Varun Upadhyay and Sayed M. Eldin ()
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Arun Uniyal: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Uttarakhand, Srinagar 246174, Uttarakhand, India
Yogesh K. Prajapati: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Uttarakhand, Srinagar 246174, Uttarakhand, India
Lalit Ranakoti: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun 248002, Uttarakhand, India
Prabhakar Bhandari: Mechanical Engineering Department, SOET, K. R. Mangalam University, Gurgaon 122103, Hariyana, India
Tej Singh: Savaria Institute of Technology, Eötvös Loránd University, 9700 Szombathely, Hungary
Brijesh Gangil: Mechanical Engineering Department, SOET, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar 246174, Uttarakhand, India
Shubham Sharma: Mechanical Engineering Department, University Center for Research & Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali 140413, Punjab, India
Viyat Varun Upadhyay: Department of Mechanical Engineering, GLA University, Bharthia 281406, Uttar Pradesh, India
Sayed M. Eldin: Center of Research, Faculty of Engineering, Future University in Egypt, New Cairo 11835, Egypt

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 23, 1-25

Abstract: Evacuated tube solar water heaters are gaining more attention in the present market scenario as compared to conventional collectors. Such collectors are versatile because no solar tracking is required and the operating temperature range is also broad. Comparatively, it is cost-effective and may attain higher thermal efficiency. However, like other collectors, continuous energy supply is sometimes hampered by the intermittent nature of solar radiation. This problem can be partially resolved by using phase change materials (PCM) in the evacuated tube solar collector (ETC). PCMs can store the energy during the sunshine hours, which can be released when solar energy is not available. In the literature, several studies are available pertaining to the use of PCMs in ETC-based solar water heaters. The literature indicates that the integration of PCMs with ETCs has several merits. Nevertheless, systematic, and comprehensive review papers dedicated to such integrated energy storage systems with ETC solar water heaters are not available. Hence, the objective of this work is to compile the relevant experimental, numerical, and theoretical works reported in the literature. The present paper broadly reviews the recent design modifications, PCM integration with different kinds of ETC water heaters, and their life cycle assessment. Furthermore, studies in the literature pertaining to the application of nanoparticles in ETC systems are also discussed, and finally, a roadmap for this energy storage system is provided.

Keywords: evacuated tube collector; PCM; nanofluid; solar radiation; energy storage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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