MXene nanofluid enhanced parabolic trough collectors: An integrated energy, exergy, environmental, and economic study for enhanced energy generation

This study examines LS-2 parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) using MXene/Syltherm 800 nanofluids for enhanced solar power generation, focusing on energy, exergy, environmental, and economic (4E) aspects. Despite MXenes’ remarkable thermophysical properties, their application in nanofluids is underexplored. This research aims to fill this gap by analyzing the performance of MXene nanofluids across varied inlet temperatures (277 °C to 377 °C) and Reynolds numbers (10⁴ to 22,000), areas often neglected in prior studies. Employing a rigorously verified one-dimensional heat transfer model, the study compares MXene/Syltherm 800 nanofluid (0.1 wt%) with other nanofluids like Al₂O₃, TiO₂, and SiO₂ in Syltherm 800, highlighting the exceptional thermophysical properties of MXene-based nanofluids. This superiority is attributed mainly to the localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) effect, which significantly enhances solar heat interaction. For an inlet temperature of 377 °C and Reynolds number of 10⁴, MXene/Syltherm 800 nanofluid achieves a notable thermal efficiency increase of 6.572 %. MXene/Syltherm 800 consistently outperforms in various conditions, showcasing significant environmental benefits in energy and exergy analyses: MXene/Syltherm 800 nanofluid leads to reduced CO₂ emissions and associated costs compared to the Syltherm 800. Specifically, at 377 °C and a Reynolds number of 10⁴, MXene/Syltherm 800 nanofluid records a CO₂ emission of 2.343 kg/day, lower than Syltherm 800′s 2.453 kg/day, alongside a corresponding reduction in emission costs. Future studies should investigate MXene's stability, synthesis, embodied energy, and potential in carbon capture.