Comprehensive Numerical Investigation on the Thermal and Energy Performance of Flat Plate Solar Collectors Utilizing Different Types of Nanofluids Combined with Advanced Nanocoating Technology

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Atyaf Qassim Albayati 1
Ahmed Salih Al-Akaishi 1
Ahmed Kadhim Hussein 2
1 Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Kufa, Najaf, 00964, Iraq
2 Mechanical engineering department, University of Babylon, College of Engineering, Babylon City, Hilla 00964, Iraq
10.22059/jser.2026.414084.1736
Abstract
A new fluid called nanofluid has the potential to greatly enhance the efficiency of traditional fluids in heat transport. Using (CuO/water, MWCNT/water, and CuO+MWCNT/water (80:20%)) nanofluids. This numerical study used six volume fractions of different nanoparticles (0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, and 0.05%) and six different volumetric flow rates (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2 and 3 L/min) for each of these concentrations. Using (MWCNT/water) as a nanofluid yielded the maximum efficiency (76.8%, 78.3%, and 83.1%) for volume fraction of (0.03, 0.04 and 0.05) respectively, at a volumetric flowrate of (3 L/min). At the same volumetric flow, however, the base fluid (water) had a lower efficiency of (55.5%). At volumetric flowrate (3 L/min), (CuO/water) attained median efficiency (61.1%, 62.6%, and 64.2%) for volume fractions (0.03,0.04, and 0.05), respectively. At a volumetric flowrate of (3 L/min), the hybrid nanofluid (CuO+MWCNT/water) (80:20%) had efficiencies of (77.7%, 79.1%, and 79.5%) for volume fractions of (0.03, 0.04 and 0.05%), respectively. The use of hybrid nanocoating technology improves the system efficiency in three nanofluids (CuO/water, MWCNT/water and CuO+MWCNT/water), the highest efficiency was recorded at a concentration of (0.05%) and a volumetric flow rate of (3 L/min) where were (70.4%, 88.4% and 86.1%), respectively.
Keywords
Flat Plate Solar Collector
Water Heating
Nanotechnology
Nanocoating
Nanofluid
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Journal of Solar Energy Research
Volume 11, Issue 4
Autumn 2026
Pages 3285-3306