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6CCVD Research

Insight into the Investigation of Diamond Nanoparticles Suspended Therminol®55 Nanofluids on Concentrated Photovoltaic/Thermal Solar Collector

At a Glance

Section titled “At a Glance”
MetadataDetails
Publication Date2022-08-28
JournalNanomaterials
AuthorsLikhan Das, Fazlay Rubbi, Khairul Habib, Navid Aslfattahi, R. Saidur
InstitutionsAligarh Muslim University, Sunway University
Citations6
AnalysisFull AI Review Included

Technical Documentation & Analysis: Diamond Nanofluids for CPV/T Systems

Section titled “Technical Documentation & Analysis: Diamond Nanofluids for CPV/T Systems”

Executive Summary

Section titled “Executive Summary”

This research successfully demonstrates the superior thermal and electrical performance of Therminol®55 (TH-55) oil enhanced with carbon-based diamond nanoparticles (DP) for use in Concentrated Photovoltaic/Thermal (CPV/T) solar collectors. The findings validate diamond’s role as a critical material for high-efficiency thermal management systems.

  • Material Achievement: High-purity diamond nanoparticles (3-10 nm, 98.3% purity) were successfully dispersed in TH-55 oil, yielding stable nanofluids (TH-55/DP) suitable for medium-to-high temperature solar applications.
  • Thermal Conductivity (TC) Enhancement: The addition of diamond nanomaterial resulted in a maximum TC enhancement of 73.39% (at 0.1 wt.% concentration and 70 °C), confirming diamond’s exceptional heat transfer capability.
  • Photo-thermal Conversion: The photo-thermal energy conversion efficiency of the base fluid was dramatically improved by 120.80% due to the superior light absorption capacity of the dispersed diamond particles.
  • System Performance: Numerical simulations of the CPV/T system showed peak thermal efficiency enhancement of 11% and electrical efficiency enhancement of 1.8% at 5000 W/m2 irradiance.
  • Cooling Effect: The nanofluid achieved a maximum PV cell temperature drop of 21 °C compared to the base fluid, significantly improving electrical output by mitigating overheating.
  • Rheological Stability: The formulated nanofluids exhibited excellent suspension stability (Zeta potential > ±30 mV) and desirable Newtonian flow behavior, with dynamic viscosity decreasing rapidly at elevated operating temperatures (20-100 °C).

Technical Specifications

Section titled “Technical Specifications”

The following hard data points were extracted from the experimental and numerical analysis of the TH-55/DP nanofluid system:

ParameterValueUnitContext
Nanoparticle MaterialDiamond (Carbon-based)-Used for nanofluid formulation
Nanoparticle Size3-10nmSpherical morphology, 98.3% purity
Nanofluid Concentration (wt.%)0.001, 0.05, 0.1wt.%Tested loadings in Therminol®55
Max TC Enhancement73.39%Achieved at 0.1 wt.% concentration, 70 °C
Max Photo-thermal Efficiency Increase120.80%Relative to pure TH-55 base fluid
Max PV Temperature Drop21°CAchieved at 0.1 wt.% concentration
Max Thermal Efficiency (ηth) Enhancement11%CPV/T system performance (at 5000 W/m2)
Max Electrical Efficiency (ηel) Enhancement1.8%CPV/T system performance (at 5000 W/m2)
Optimal Irradiance5000W/m2Used for peak efficiency calculation
Optimal Flow Rate3L/minUsed for numerical simulation
Zeta Potential (0.001 wt.%, 25 °C)45.13mVIndicates good suspension stability (> ±30 mV)
Viscosity Range (20-100 °C, 0.1 wt.%)38.48 to 5.61mPa·sRapid decrease at elevated temperatures
Base Fluid TC (20 °C)0.1284W/(m·K)Therminol®55 (TH-55)

Key Methodologies

Section titled “Key Methodologies”

The TH-55/DP nanofluids were formulated and characterized using a rigorous two-step process, followed by numerical validation in a CPV/T model:

  1. Nanofluid Formulation (Two-Step Method): Diamond nanoparticles (DP) were dispersed into pure Therminol®55 (TH-55) at three weight fractions (0.001, 0.05, and 0.1 wt.%).
  2. Mechanical Stabilization: Samples were initially stirred using a magnetic stirrer for 30 minutes at 700 rpm and 80 °C.
  3. Ultrasonication: Further stabilization was achieved using an ultrasonic homogenizer (FS-1200N) at high frequency (1200 W, 20 kHz) for 30 minutes, maintained at 80 °C to ensure uniform particle dispersion.
  4. Thermal Conductivity Measurement: The TEMPOS instrument, utilizing the transient hot wire method, was used to measure TC across a temperature range of 30 °C to 70 °C.
  5. Viscosity and Rheology Measurement: The MCR-92 Rheometer was used to assess dynamic viscosity across 20 °C to 100 °C, at a shear rate of 30 to 100 s-1, confirming Newtonian flow behavior.
  6. Stability Analysis: Zeta potential (ζ) was measured using electrophoresis at 25 °C and 80 °C to quantify suspension stability.
  7. Optical Characterization: UV-Vis Spectrometer (200 to 800 nm) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) (450 to 4000 cm-1) were employed to assess absorbance and chemical stability.
  8. Numerical Simulation: The performance of the TH-55/DP nanofluid in a 300 W CPV/T system was modeled using COMSOL Multiphysics® (version 5.6), incorporating temperature-dependent viscosity and TC correlations via User-Defined Functions (UDFs).

6CCVD Solutions & Capabilities

Section titled “6CCVD Solutions & Capabilities”

The research highlights the unparalleled thermal benefits of diamond in high-flux solar energy systems. While this study focused on diamond nanoparticles in the fluid, 6CCVD specializes in high-purity, engineered MPCVD diamond materials essential for the solid-state components (substrates, heat spreaders, and electrodes) that define the performance and longevity of advanced CPV/T modules.

6CCVD is uniquely positioned to supply the foundational diamond materials required to replicate or extend this high-performance thermal management research.

Application Requirement from Research6CCVD Material SolutionCustomization Potential & Value Proposition
High Thermal Conductivity (TC) (Required for PV cooling/heat spreading)Optical Grade Single Crystal Diamond (SCD)SCD offers the highest known TC (up to 2000 W/m·K). We supply SCD wafers (0.1 µm to 500 µm thick) for use as advanced heat spreaders or PV cell substrates, dramatically reducing thermal resistance compared to conventional materials (kPV = 148 W/m·K in the study).
Large-Area Thermal Management (Required for 1955 mm x 982 mm module)Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD) WafersWe provide large-format PCD plates up to 125 mm in diameter, ideal for high-power density thermal components. Our PCD can be polished to Ra < 5 nm for optimal interface thermal contact and minimal scattering.
Fluid Stability and Processing (Zeta Potential, Chemical Stability)Boron-Doped Diamond (BDD) ElectrodesBDD films (0.1 µm to 500 µm) can be integrated into the fluid loop for advanced electrochemical processing or stability enhancement of the nanofluid, leveraging BDD’s extreme chemical inertness and wide potential window for fluid conditioning.
Custom PV/T Integration (Serpentine tubing, Tedlar plate interfaces)Custom Dimensions and Metalization Services6CCVD offers precision laser cutting and shaping of diamond substrates (up to 10 mm thick) to match specific CPV/T module dimensions. We provide in-house custom metalization (Au, Pt, Pd, Ti, W, Cu) for robust thermal and electrical contacts required in hybrid systems.
High-Temperature Reliability (Operation up to 100 °C and beyond)High-Purity MPCVD Diamond SubstratesOur SCD and PCD materials maintain exceptional thermal and mechanical stability far beyond the 100 °C operating range, ensuring long-term reliability and performance for medium-to-high temperature solar thermal applications.

Engineering Support

Section titled “Engineering Support”

6CCVD’s in-house PhD engineering team specializes in optimizing diamond material properties (purity, thickness, doping, and surface finish) for high-flux thermal and optical applications, such as Concentrated Photovoltaic/Thermal (CPV/T) systems and high-power electronics. We offer consultation on material selection, thermal modeling, and integration strategies to maximize system efficiency and longevity.

For custom specifications or material consultation, visit 6ccvd.com or contact our engineering team directly.

View Original Abstract

Nanofluids are identified as advanced working fluids in the solar energy conversion field with superior heat transfer characteristics. This research work introduces carbon-based diamond nanomaterial and Therminol®55 oil-based nanofluids for implementation in a concentrated photovoltaic/thermal (CPV/T) solar collector. This study focuses on the experimental formulation, characterization of properties, and performance evaluation of the nanofluid-based CPV/T system. Thermo-physical (thermal conductivity, viscosity, and rheology), optical (UV-vis and FT-IR), and stability (Zeta potential) properties of the formulated nanofluids are characterized at 0.001-0.1 wt.% concentrations of dispersed particles using experimental assessment. The maximum photo-thermal energy conversion efficiency of the base fluid is improved by 120.80% at 0.1 wt.%. The thermal conductivity of pure oil is increased by adding the nanomaterial. The highest enhancement of 73.39% is observed for the TH-55/DP nanofluid. Furthermore, dynamic viscosity decreased dramatically across the temperature range studied (20-100 °C), and the nanofluid exhibited dominant Newtonian flow behavior, with viscosity remaining nearly constant up to a shear rate of 100 s−1. Numerical simulations of the nanofluid-operated CPV/T collector have disclosed substantial improvements. At a concentrated solar irradiance of 5000 W/m2 and an optimal flow rate of 3 L/min, the highest thermal and electrical energy conversion efficiency enhancements are found to be 11 and 1.8%, respectively.

Tech Support

Section titled “Tech Support”

Original Source

Section titled “Original Source”

References

Section titled “References”
  1. 2019 - Recent progress on concentrating direct absorption solar collector using nanofluids [Crossref]
  2. 2021 - State-of-the-art ionic liquid & ionanofluids incorporated with advanced nanomaterials for solar energy applications [Crossref]
  3. 2021 - Hydrothermal performance improvement of an inserted double pipe heat exchanger with Ionanofluid [Crossref]
  4. 2019 - Concentrated photovoltaic thermal systems: A component-by-component view on the developments in the design, heat transfer medium and applications [Crossref]
  5. 2018 - A cooler for dense-array CPV receivers based on metal foam [Crossref]
  6. 2018 - Concentrating photovoltaic thermal (CPVT) collectors and systems: Theory, performance assessment and applications [Crossref]
  7. 2017 - Effects of operational conditions on the energy efficiency of photovoltaic modules operating in Malaysia [Crossref]
  8. 2013 - Performance evaluation of concentrating solar photovoltaic and photovoltaic/thermal systems [Crossref]

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