Utilization of Vibration to Enhance the Thermal Performance of Flat Plate Solar Collectors�A Numerical Study

• Main Authors: Hussain, T., Nasif, M.S., Hussin, H., Azha, N.I.S.
• Format: Article
• Published: 2023
• Online Access: http://scholars.utp.edu.my/id/eprint/34201/; https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85140764979&doi=10.1007%2f978-981-19-1939-8_33&partnerID=40&md5=4ab4dcf5e3957f90d020fed9fd0173eb
• Institution: Universiti Teknologi Petronas

This study investigates the combioned effect of low-frequency vibrations and heat transfer fluid on the fluid outlet temperature of flat plate solar collectors (FPSC).Low-frequency vibrations in the range of 5�10 Hz with a constant amplitude of 3 mm were applied on the FPSC having water (H2O) and Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3�H2O) water nanofluid as HTF.Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) study was carried out to simulated FPSC and the model validated with the experimental results from the literature.The results showed a noticeable enhancement in the fluid outlet temperature of FPSC after applying vibrations.With water as HTF, the fluid outlet temperature without vibrations was 41.4 °C, while by applying low-frequency vibrations of 5 and 10 Hz, it increased to 48.7 °C and 49.5 °C respectively.While with Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3�H2O) water nanofluid as HTF, the fluid outlet temperature without vibrations was 50.68 °C while by applying low-frequency vibrations of 5 and 10 Hz, it increased to 51.3 °C and 52.5 °C respectively. © 2023, Institute of Technology PETRONAS Sdn Bhd.