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Review
. 2023 Jan 9;13(2):278.
doi: 10.3390/nano13020278.

Experimental Exploration of Hybrid Nanofluids as Energy-Efficient Fluids in Solar and Thermal Energy Storage Applications

Humaira Yasmin  1 , Solomon O Giwa  2 , Saima Noor  1 , Mohsen Sharifpur  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Experimental Exploration of Hybrid Nanofluids as Energy-Efficient Fluids in Solar and Thermal Energy Storage Applications

Humaira Yasmin et al. Nanomaterials (Basel). .

Abstract

In response to the issues of environment, climate, and human health coupled with the growing demand for energy due to increasing population and technological advancement, the concept of sustainable and renewable energy is presently receiving unprecedented attention. To achieve these feats, energy savings and efficiency are crucial in terms of the development of energy-efficient devices and thermal fluids. Limitations associated with the use of conventional thermal fluids led to the discovery of energy-efficient fluids called "nanofluids, which are established to be better than conventional thermal fluids. The current research progress on nanofluids has led to the development of the advanced nanofluids coined "hybrid nanofluids" (HNFs) found to possess superior thermal-optical properties than conventional thermal fluids and nanofluids. This paper experimentally explored the published works on the application of HNFs as thermal transport media in solar energy collectors and thermal energy storage. The performance of hybrid nano-coolants and nano-thermal energy storage materials has been critically reviewed based on the stability, types of hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs) and mixing ratios, types of base fluids, nano-size of HNPs, thermal and optical properties, flow, photothermal property, functionalization of HNPs, magnetic field intensity, and orientation, and φ, subject to solar and thermal energy storage applications. Various HNFs engaged in different applications were observed to save energy and increase efficiency. The HNF-based media performed better than the mono nanofluid counterparts with complementary performance when the mixing ratios were optimized. In line with these applications, further experimental studies coupled with the influence of magnetic and electric fields on their performances were research gaps to be filled in the future. Green HNPs and base fluids are future biomaterials for HNF formulation to provide sustainable, low-cost, and efficient thermal transport and energy storage media.

Keywords: coolants; efficiency; energy storage; hybrid nanofluids; phase change material; solar energy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Temporal publication trend of articles on nanofluid and hybrid nanofluid studies (Source: SCOPUS (26 December 2022)).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Temporal publication trend of review papers on nanofluid and hybrid nanofluid studies (Source: SCOPUS (26 December 2022)).
Figure 3
Figure 3
A schematic presentation of this present work.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Description of solar energy conversion and systems.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Transmittance spectral analysis of optimized 0.2 vol% ATO-AG/DIW nanofluid (before and after the experiment) for DASC application (Adapted from Sreekumar et al. [63]).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Extinction coefficient of ATO-Ag/DIW nanofluid as a function of mass fraction under varying wavelengths (Adapted from Sreekumar et al. [63]).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Effect of increasing penetration distance on solar weighted absorption fraction of MWCNT/Fe3O4 nanofluids and base fluid (Adapted from Tong et al. [61]).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Photothermal energy conversion efficiency of MWCNT/Fe3O4 nanofluids and base fluid with increasing irradiation (Adapted from Tong et al. [61]).
Figure 9
Figure 9
Temperature parameter and solar irradiance against increasing solar exposure duration for MWCNT/Fe3O4 nanofluids and base fluid (Adapted from Tong et al. [61]).
Figure 10
Figure 10
Thermal and exergetic efficiency performance of Al2O3-Fe nanofluid against temperature parameter for a flat plate collector application (Adapted from Okonkwo et al. [112]).
Figure 11
Figure 11
Thermal and exergetic efficiency performance of Al2O3-Fe and Al2O3 nanofluid and water against increasing volumetric fraction for a flat plate collector application (Adapted from Okonkwo et al. [112]).
Figure 12
Figure 12
Coefficient of heat transfer coefficient and friction factor of 0.1% Al2O3-Fe and 0.1% Al2O3 nanofluid and water against varying mass flow rates at an inlet temperature of 308 K for a flat plate collector application (Adapted from Okonkwo et al. [112]). Heat transfer coefficient and friction factor performance as a function of (A) temperature (B) mass flow rate.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Exergy destruction and exergy loss performance of Al2O3-Fe and Al2O3 nanofluid and water against increasing temperature parameters for a flat plate collector application (Adapted from Okonkwo et al. [112]).
Figure 14
Figure 14
The DSC freezing–melting curves of 0.1 vil% β-CD-TiO2-Ag nanofluid, TiO2 nanofluid, and cooling medium (Adapted from Li et al. [83]).
Figure 15
Figure 15
Hybrid nanofluids deployed for photothermal energy conversion efficiency studies.
Figure 16
Figure 16
Hybrid nano-materials deployed as thermal energy storage materials.
Figure 17
Figure 17
Hybrid nanofluids deployed in various solar collectors.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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