Enhancement of Efficiency of Solar Plate Receiver Using Selective Coating of TiO2 Nanofluids

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to minimize irradiative heat loss and to enhance absorption of incoming solar radiation as much as possible using TiO2 nanofluids. The cavity receiver is an important part for solar energy collection. Currently efficiency of solar cell is very less around 10 percent. The performance of solar system can be improved by effective coating of TiO2 nanoparticles at receiver end. The utilization of sunlight from UV to visible range or near IR range is an active issue in this field. The energy transfer process activates the photo catalytic reaction on the surface of TiO2. On the other hand, plasmonic materials show size dependable surface Plasmon resonance. Due to oscillations of free electrons in the plasmonic metals, strong light absorption take place and can generate large electric field near the surface. Quantum confinement plays the role with particle size reduction thereby causing changes in energy band. Combining both effect using semiconductor nanoparticles (TiO2) is effective to enhance the efficiency of solar plate receiver.