Experimental Study of Pulsating Heat Pipes Filled with Nanofluids under the Irradiation of Solar Simulator

Shubo Liu, Yi Yang, Kuiyuan Ma, Haichuan Jin and Xin Jin
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Shubo Liu: School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Yi Yang: AVIC Shenyang Aircraft Design and Research Institute, Shenyang 110035, China
Kuiyuan Ma: School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Haichuan Jin: School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Xin Jin: School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China

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

Abstract: Developing renewable energy technologies, especially solar technology, is of vital importance to cope with increasing energy consumption. The existing solar thermal systems have the disadvantages of capturing solar energy inefficiently and needing additional pumping power to circulate the working fluid. A concept of a direct absorption pump-free solar thermal system that combines the advantages of nanoparticles and pulsating heat pipes (PHP) is proposed in this work. The effects of a variety of parameters including nanoparticle types, nanoparticle concentration, and nanofluid filling rate on the performance of PHP were studied. It was found that PHP has the best filling rate (80–90%) making the best heat transfer performance and minimizing the thermal resistance. The concentration of nanoparticles affects the input power of the pulsating heat pipe and thus the operation of the PHP. The nanofluid with relatively low concentration cannot absorb enough solar energy to drive the PHP to operate normally. Experimental research shows that the new solar thermal system can absorb solar energy efficiently and transfer the heat into the targeted area spontaneously, which may be an approach for future solar thermal utilization.

Keywords: PHP; solar energy; nanofluids; direct absorption (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
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