Synthesis, characterisation and thermo-physical properties of highly stable graphene oxide-based aqueous nanofluids for low-temperature direct absorption solar collectors and solar still desalination.

Chamsa-ard, Wisut (2019) Synthesis, characterisation and thermo-physical properties of highly stable graphene oxide-based aqueous nanofluids for low-temperature direct absorption solar collectors and solar still desalination. PhD thesis, Murdoch University.

Abstract

Humanities’ insatiable demand for energy and fresh water has never been satisfied and continues to increase with an ever-increasing global population. Because both demands currently rely heavily on fossil fuels, the resulting detrimental consequences of rising greenhouse gas emissions, global warming and environmental degradation present major challenges for every nation. Importantly, the efficient conversion of energy to perform useful work is a factor that directly contributes to the financial development and economic sustainability of a country. Furthermore, the current global water demand is already much higher than the Earth’s natural water cycle can sustain, and this shortfall is presently being made up by the use of high energy consuming desalination processes. Thus, there is currently extensive research into developing eco-friendly and viable renewable energy sources to meet the demands for energy and fresh water. Solar energy offers an alternative energy source with the potential to alleviate the problems associated with fossil fuel-based energy generation and desalination. The performance of conventional solar thermal collectors is limited by poor optical properties and low thermal properties. Traditional solar stills are not widely used today, due to their poor thermal properties and low productivity levels. The thesis focuses on developing new and novel nanofluids based on novel graphene based materials with enhanced optical and thermal properties to improve the performance of direct absorption solar collectors (DASCs) and solar desalination stills. The thesis is arranged in two parts. The first part extensively reviews current solar collector systems for converting solar energy to thermal energy and also reviews current progress towards developing high thermal efficiency solar desalination systems. The second part presents actual case studies that evaluate the performance of newly developed novel graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide based nanofluids for use in DASCs and solar stills.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	Chemistry and Physics
United Nations SDGs:	Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Supervisor(s):	Poinern, Gérrard Eddy Jai, Fawcett, Derek and Fung, Lance
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/55043

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