Publication

Abstract : Solar collectors configured with flat plate innovation pushed to drive the prime role in research in solar renewable energy due to economic, sustainable, and eco-friendly. Besides, the low thermal efficiency and heat loss are the major drawbacks of using flat plate-type solar collectors. The current research adopts the 2% volume fractions of SiO2 nanofluid as the working fluid. Their effects on solar thermal functional characteristics of solar collectors made with the flat plate are experimentally analyzed with the mass-flow rate of 2 Lpm, 2.5 Lpm, 3 Lpm, and 3.5 Lpm, respectively, for air dryer applications. A flat plate solar collector’s investigational thermal performance is compared with water fluid. The significance of a 2% volume fraction of SiO2 nanofluid is operating at 3.5 Lpm recorded higher temperature (71°C), optimum thermal efficiency of 84.1%, and better drying efficiency of 83.4%. The optimum results of the present investigation utilized for air dryer applications.