Comprehensive evaluation of flat plate and parabolic dish solar collectors' performance using different operating fluids and MWCNT nanofluid in different climatic conditions

The use of fossil fuels leads to depletion of fuel reserves and environmental pollution. One way to achieve a sustainable future in urban areas and remote communities is to use the independent renewable energy systems. Meanwhile, solar energy is one of the most common sources of energy generation that has attracted of the world. The present study provides the comprehensive examine the performance of two parabolic dish collector and flat-plate collector from energy, exergy, Enviroeconomic and Exergoenviroeconomic view of points. To examine the performance of solar systems, the climatic conditions of two different cities in Asia (Beijing and Tehran) have been used. In addition, the performance of the systems is investigated under different parameters and using different working fluids and MWCNT nanoparticle. It was found that the both solar systems have better overall performance in Tehran than in Beijing. Moreover, in the months when the solar collector has lower exergy efficiency, its use in Tehran compared to that Beijing has a better exergy performance than other months. In addition, the lowest and highest Levelized Cost of Energy are belong to dish collector (in Tehran with water) and flat plate collector (in Beijing with Dowtherm Q), respectively. For Tehran, LCOE of dish collector increases more than 5.5-fold when using water/MWCNT nanofluid instead of water. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Automated summary

This study comprehensively examines the performance of two solar collector systems in Beijing and Tehran, finding that both systems perform better in Tehran. Additionally, the exergy performance of the solar collector in Tehran is better than in Beijing during months of lower exergy efficiency. The Levelized Cost of Energy varies between the dish collector in Tehran with water and the flat plate collector in Beijing with Dowtherm Q, with significant differences when using alternative working fluids like MWCNT nanofluid.