Analyses of entropy generation and pressure drop for a conventional flat plate solar collector using different types of metal oxide nanofluids

This paper theoretically analyzes entropy generation, heat transfer enhancement capabilities and pres-sure drop of an absorbing medium with suspended nanoparticles (Al2O3, CuO, SiO2, TiO2dispersed inwater) inside a flat plate solar collector. Steady, laminar axial flow of a nanofluid is considered. Thesenanofluids considered have different nanoparticles volume fractions and volume flow rates in the rangeof 1–4% and 1–4 L/min, respectively. Based on the analytical results, the CuO nanofluid could reduce theentropy generation by 4.34% and enhance the heat transfer coefficient by 22.15% theoretically comparedto water as an absorbing fluid. It also has a small penalty in the pumping power by 1.58%.