TY - JOUR
T1 - Ultrastable plasmonic nanofluids in optimized direct absorption solar collectors
AU - Sharaf, Omar Z.
AU - Rizk, Nahla
AU - Joshi, Chakra P.
AU - Abi Jaoudé, Maguy
AU - Al-Khateeb, Ashraf N.
AU - Kyritsis, Dimitrios C.
AU - Abu-Nada, Eiyad
AU - Martin, Matthew N.
N1 - Funding Information:
This publication is based upon work supported by the Khalifa University of Science and Technology under award numbers KUIRF-L2-210116, CIRA-2018-107, and by an ADEK Award for Research Excellence AARE17-272.
Funding Information:
This publication is based upon work supported by the Khalifa University of Science and Technology under award numbers KUIRF-L2-210116 , CIRA-2018-107 , and by an ADEK Award for Research Excellence AARE17-272.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2019/11/1
Y1 - 2019/11/1
N2 - Nanofluids used in low-flux direct absorption solar collectors (DASCs) typically encounter critical stability issues due to long-term storage, elevated temperatures, high particle concentrations, and fouling from free surfactants. Here, we developed ultrastable nanofluids, and their properties were used to computationally optimize DASC designs. Broadband photothermal absorption was achieved using citrate- (CIT-) and polyethylene glycol-coated (PEG-) gold nanoparticles, circumventing the need for free surfactants. The nanofluids were subjected to long-term ambient storage, high particle concentrations, and incremental heating to analyze their stability and utility in DASCs. Electrosteric stabilization (PEG + CIT) provided superior colloidal stability and more consistent optical properties; chemical and colloidal stability was verified for 16 months, the longest demonstration of stable nanofluids under ambient storage in the solar literature. Optical measurements of the stabilized solar nanofluids were fed into a DASC optimization model. A constrained generalized pattern search (GPS) algorithm simultaneously maximized collector thermal power-gain and minimized nanoparticle mass loading, while maintaining a collector temperature-gain target. Ultimately, by simultaneously developing ultrastable solar nanofluids, minimizing nanoparticle loading requirements, and maximizing collector thermal power gain, the outcomes from this study are considered significant steps towards deploying efficient and reliable low-flux, nanofluid-based DASCs in field applications.
AB - Nanofluids used in low-flux direct absorption solar collectors (DASCs) typically encounter critical stability issues due to long-term storage, elevated temperatures, high particle concentrations, and fouling from free surfactants. Here, we developed ultrastable nanofluids, and their properties were used to computationally optimize DASC designs. Broadband photothermal absorption was achieved using citrate- (CIT-) and polyethylene glycol-coated (PEG-) gold nanoparticles, circumventing the need for free surfactants. The nanofluids were subjected to long-term ambient storage, high particle concentrations, and incremental heating to analyze their stability and utility in DASCs. Electrosteric stabilization (PEG + CIT) provided superior colloidal stability and more consistent optical properties; chemical and colloidal stability was verified for 16 months, the longest demonstration of stable nanofluids under ambient storage in the solar literature. Optical measurements of the stabilized solar nanofluids were fed into a DASC optimization model. A constrained generalized pattern search (GPS) algorithm simultaneously maximized collector thermal power-gain and minimized nanoparticle mass loading, while maintaining a collector temperature-gain target. Ultimately, by simultaneously developing ultrastable solar nanofluids, minimizing nanoparticle loading requirements, and maximizing collector thermal power gain, the outcomes from this study are considered significant steps towards deploying efficient and reliable low-flux, nanofluid-based DASCs in field applications.
KW - Direct absorption solar collector
KW - Dispersion stability
KW - Electrosteric stabilization
KW - Global optimization
KW - Nanofluid
KW - Plasmonic nanoparticles
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85072535283&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.enconman.2019.112010
DO - 10.1016/j.enconman.2019.112010
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85072535283
SN - 0196-8904
VL - 199
JO - Energy Conversion and Management
JF - Energy Conversion and Management
M1 - 112010
ER -