Hu, Y, He, Y, Zhang, Z et al. (1 more author) (2017) Effect of Al₂O₃ nanoparticle dispersion on the specific heat capacity of a eutectic binary nitrate salt for solar power applications. Energy Conversion and Management, 142. pp. 366-373. ISSN 0196-8904
Abstract
Molten salts can be used as heat transfer fluids or thermal storage materials in a concentrated solar power plant. Improving the thermal properties can influence the utilization efficiency of solar energy. In this study, the effect of doping eutectic binary salt solvent with Al₂O₃ nanoparticles on its specific heat capacity (cp) was investigated. The effects of the mass fraction of nanoparticles on the cp of the composite nanofluid were analyzed, using both differential scanning calorimetry measurements and molecular dynamics simulations. The specific heat capacity of the nanocomposites was enhanced by increasing the nanoparticle concentration. The maximum enhancement was found to be 8.3%, at a nanoparticle concentration of 2.0%. A scanning electron microscope was used to analyze the material morphology. It was observed that special nanostructures were formed and the specific heat capacity of the nanocomposites was enhanced by increasing the quantity of nanostructures. Simulation results of cp agreed well with the experimental data, and the potential energy and interaction energy in the system were analyzed. The change in Coulombic energy contributed to most of the large change in cp, which explains the discrepancy in values between conventional nanofluids and molten salt-based nanofluids.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Energy Conversion and Management. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Solar energy application; Nanocomposite; Specific heat capacity; Molecular dynamics simulation; Potential energy analysis |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Chemical & Process Engineering (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 03 Apr 2017 08:32 |
Last Modified: | 27 Mar 2018 00:38 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.03.062 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.enconman.2017.03.062 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:114468 |