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Optimization of Finned Thermal Collectors in Solar Water Systems: A Study on Al 2 O 3 /Water Hybrid Nanofluid.

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Title: Optimization of Finned Thermal Collectors in Solar Water Systems: A Study on Al 2 O 3 /Water Hybrid Nanofluid.
Authors: Alabi, Oluwaseyi Omotayo1,2 (AUTHOR) 25128327@dut4life.ac.za, Gbadeyan, Oluwatoyin Joseph2,3,4 (AUTHOR), Olanrewaju, Oludolapo Akanni2,3 (AUTHOR)
Source: Energies (19961073). May2026, Vol. 19 Issue 10, p2276. 23p.
Subject Terms: *Solar collectors, *Nanofluids, *Aluminum oxide, *Solar water heaters, *Heat transfer, *Computational fluid dynamics, *Heat radiation & absorption
Abstract: Solar water heating systems (SWHS) offer a sustainable solution for reducing reliance on conventional energy sources; however, their performance is often limited by insufficient heat transfer within the collector. This study presents a CFD-based numerical investigation on the optimization of finned thermal collectors in a solar water heating system using Al2O3/water hybrid nanofluid. The effects of nanoparticle volume fraction (1–3%), fin geometry (triangular and hexagonal), and mass flow rate (5–20 kg/h) on the thermal and heat transfer performance of the system were analyzed. Key performance indicators including absorber/PV temperature, outlet fluid temperature, convective heat transfer coefficient, thermal efficiency, and improved daily efficiency were evaluated under transient operating conditions. The results show that increasing Al2O3 concentration enhances heat transfer and thermal efficiency due to improved thermophysical properties of the working fluid. Fin geometry significantly influences thermal behavior, with hexagonal fins generally producing higher outlet temperatures and thermal efficiency of 65%, while triangular fins provide higher daily efficiency improvement under optimized conditions. The convective heat transfer coefficient increased with both nanoparticle concentration and flow rate, reaching peak values during mid-day hours corresponding to maximum solar input. The study confirms that combining optimized fin structures with Al2O3/water nanofluids provides an effective strategy for improving the thermal performance of solar water heating collectors, while CFD modelling offers a reliable approach for system design and performance prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
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Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 194141391
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
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  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Optimization of Finned Thermal Collectors in Solar Water Systems: A Study on Al 2 O 3 /Water Hybrid Nanofluid.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alabi%2C+Oluwaseyi+Omotayo%22">Alabi, Oluwaseyi Omotayo</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> 25128327@dut4life.ac.za</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gbadeyan%2C+Oluwatoyin+Joseph%22">Gbadeyan, Oluwatoyin Joseph</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Olanrewaju%2C+Oludolapo+Akanni%22">Olanrewaju, Oludolapo Akanni</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Energies+%2819961073%29%22">Energies (19961073)</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 19 Issue 10, p2276. 23p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Solar+collectors%22">Solar collectors</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nanofluids%22">Nanofluids</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Aluminum+oxide%22">Aluminum oxide</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Solar+water+heaters%22">Solar water heaters</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Heat+transfer%22">Heat transfer</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computational+fluid+dynamics%22">Computational fluid dynamics</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Heat+radiation+%26+absorption%22">Heat radiation & absorption</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Solar water heating systems (SWHS) offer a sustainable solution for reducing reliance on conventional energy sources; however, their performance is often limited by insufficient heat transfer within the collector. This study presents a CFD-based numerical investigation on the optimization of finned thermal collectors in a solar water heating system using Al2O3/water hybrid nanofluid. The effects of nanoparticle volume fraction (1–3%), fin geometry (triangular and hexagonal), and mass flow rate (5–20 kg/h) on the thermal and heat transfer performance of the system were analyzed. Key performance indicators including absorber/PV temperature, outlet fluid temperature, convective heat transfer coefficient, thermal efficiency, and improved daily efficiency were evaluated under transient operating conditions. The results show that increasing Al2O3 concentration enhances heat transfer and thermal efficiency due to improved thermophysical properties of the working fluid. Fin geometry significantly influences thermal behavior, with hexagonal fins generally producing higher outlet temperatures and thermal efficiency of 65%, while triangular fins provide higher daily efficiency improvement under optimized conditions. The convective heat transfer coefficient increased with both nanoparticle concentration and flow rate, reaching peak values during mid-day hours corresponding to maximum solar input. The study confirms that combining optimized fin structures with Al2O3/water nanofluids provides an effective strategy for improving the thermal performance of solar water heating collectors, while CFD modelling offers a reliable approach for system design and performance prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3390/en19102276
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 23
        StartPage: 2276
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Solar collectors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nanofluids
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Aluminum oxide
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Solar water heaters
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Heat transfer
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computational fluid dynamics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Heat radiation & absorption
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Optimization of Finned Thermal Collectors in Solar Water Systems: A Study on Al 2 O 3 /Water Hybrid Nanofluid.
        Type: main
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      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Alabi, Oluwaseyi Omotayo
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          Name:
            NameFull: Gbadeyan, Oluwatoyin Joseph
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Olanrewaju, Oludolapo Akanni
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          Dates:
            – D: 15
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 19961073
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              Value: 19
            – Type: issue
              Value: 10
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Energies (19961073)
              Type: main
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