Fabrication and Thermal Analysis of Nano-structured Heat Transfer Medium and Novel Conical-shaped Solar Greenhouse Device
J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Volume 13, No 3 (2024) pp. 478-487
Abstract
The solar device that acts on the principle of greenhouse effect is a solar greenhouse device and it is a feasible option for photothermal applications. Its optical characteristics, thermal properties, and thermal performances are to be improved for its effective utilization in application sectors. From these perspectives, the initial part of the present research was devoted to preparing, characterizing, and evaluating the nano-based heat transfer medium. The central part of the present research was devoted to fabricating the novel conical-shaped solar greenhouse device integrated with the nano-based heat transfer medium; the final part was devoted to experimentally evaluating the thermal performances of the fabricated solar greenhouse device. In the present research work, the carbon nanotube and nano-tungsten carbide-coated heat transfer medium and novel solar greenhouse device were developed and they were experimentally analyzed. The characterization studies showed that the chemical constituents in the coating affecting the heat transfer medium were in nano-sizes. The thermal studies showed that the maximum temperature enhancement on heat transfer medium with nano-coating was in the range of 49.0 to 76.2 °C. The performance study showed that the maximum drying efficiency of the conical-shaped solar greenhouse device varied from 63.9 to 66.7% for drying the leaves of medicinal plants. The novelty of the present work was not only the preparation of a nanostructured heat transfer medium but also the fabrication and utilization of a novel solar greenhouse device. Since the physical characteristics of the components and devices were found to be satisfactory, it could be concluded that the components and conical-shaped greenhouse devices would effectively be utilized in energy-intensive sectors.
Full Text
Reference
BIS, Bureau of Indian Standards (IS 12933-2005), Specifications for flat plate collectors, Ghaziabad (India) (2005).
Chattopadhyay, K. K. and Banerjee AN., Introduction to nanoscience and technology. New Delhi (India): PHI Learning Private Limited, (2012).
Fatih, S., Ceylin, Ş. and Hakan, F. Ö., Improving the performance of an active greenhouse device by integrating a solar absorber north wall coated with graphene nanoplatelet-embedded black paint, Solar Energy., 231, 140-148 (2022).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2021.10.082
Geetha, S., Richa, R., Akanksha, A., Som, N. S. and Bhuvnesh, K., Optimizing Performance Under High-Altitude Stressful Conditions Using Herbal Extracts and Nutraceuticals, Nutraceuticals and Natural Product Pharmaceuticals, Academic Press, 141-166, (2019).
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816450-1.00005-2
Jeya, S. P. and Jeba, R. R.V., Thermal analyses on nanocarbon and chromium oxide coated fins and Solar collector with nanostructured materials, Materials Research Innovations., 26, 176-181 (2021).
https://doi.org/10.1080/14328917.2021.1926726
John, A., D., William. A., B., Solar thermal engineering processes, 4th edition A Wiley Interscience publication, New York, U.S.A. (2013).
Katumba, G., Olumekor, L., Forbes, A., Makiwa, G., Mwakikunga, B., Lu, E. Wäckelgård J., Optical, thermal and structural characteristics of carbon nanoparticles embedded in ZnO and NiO as selective solar absorbers, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 92(10), 1285–1292, (2008).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2008.04.023
Kumar, L. and Prakash, O., Development of FE modeling for hybrid greenhouse device for potato chips drying, Journal of Food Science., 88(5), 1800-1815 (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.16525
Pantira, H., Pimpian, S. and Kittisak, D., Performance evaluation of parabolic greenhouse-type solar device used for drying of cayenne pepper, Drying Technology., 38(2), 48–54 (2019).
https://doi.org/10.1080/07373937.2019.1609495
Ranjith, R., Karthickdharshan, P. and Karthick, R., Nano carbon and copper oxide coated solar absorbers: Preparation, characterization, and assessment of thermal characteristics, Int. J. Phys. Appl., 6(1),48-52. (2024).
https://doi.org/10.33545/26647575.2024.v6.i1a.83
Thomas, R. A., Ed-Hawkins and Philip, D. J., CO2, the greenhouse effect and global warming, Endeavour., 40(3), 178-187 (2016).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.endeavour.2016.07.002
Tiwari, G. N., Greenhouse Technology for Controlled Environment, Alpha Science International Ltd., (2003).
Vasantha, M. and Jeba, R., Preparation and characterization of nano graphite - CuO based absorber and performance evaluation of solar air heating collector, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry., 129(1), 233-240, (2017).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-017-6155-1
Vivekanandan, M., Periasamy, K. and Dinesh B. C., Experimental and CFD investigation of six shapes of solar greenhouse device in no load conditions to identify the ideal shape of the device, Materials Today: Proceedings., 7(2), 1409-1416 (2021).
