Stability and Thermal Properties Study of Metal Chalcogenide-Based Nanofluids for Concentrating Solar Power^†

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This paper reports the WS2 and MoS2 Nanofluids prepared by LPE process and their stability and thermal properties. This paper may be published in the Energies after minor revisions.

 

The characterization of nanofluids is not enough. Please describe the TEM image of the WS2 and MoS2 before LPE process and after several days. In addition, please show the XRD pattern of samples.

 

Please show the UV-Vis spectra of the as-formed WS2 and MoS2 and the samples after several days. Along with the time change, is the peak shifted?

Author Response

Comment: This paper reports the WS2 and MoS2 Nanofluids prepared by LPE process and their stability and thermal properties. This paper may be published in the Energies after minor revisions.

Comment: The characterization of nanofluids is not enough. Please describe the TEM image of the WS2 and MoS2 before LPE process and after several days. In addition, please show the XRD pattern of samples.

Answer: According to TEM images, both WS₂and MoS₂are commercial nanoparticles, which show 3D morphology, as is well-known. The TEM images included in the manuscript were registered after LPE, and we can observe the different morphology obtained in both cases. On the other hand, XRD patterns of the samples extracted from the nanofluid after LPE process has been included in the new version of the manuscript.

 

Comment: Please show the UV-Vis spectra of the as-formed WS2 and MoS2 and the samples after several days. Along with the time change, is the peak shifted? 

Answer: Thanks to the reviewer for this comment. UV-Vis spectra have been included for both nanofluid right after preparation and after 7 days. No shift of the peaks is observed in both cases.

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors presented experimental measurements of stability and thermophysical properties of two different kinds of nanofluids, i.e. MoS₂ nanowires and WS₂ nanosheets dispersed in same heat transfer fluid. It showed very interesting results for enhancement of concentrating solar power applications.   

 Overall the experimental methods, data, and results all appear well conceived and executed.  

I have some minor comments. 

For the DLS measurement data in Fig. 2, the particle size of MoS₂ looks still increasing at 7 days. If you can show more data after 7 days with saturation of the particle size, it might help to strengthen your conclusion. In line 58, can you explain a little more about ref. [12]? Readers might be wondering what are interesting results. Some minor typos or grammatical errors: line 42 "to storage  store energy", line 67 "commonly common sedimentation", line 100 "to performance perform DLS", line 131 "exhibits the highest higher extinction coefficient"

 

Author Response

Comment: The authors presented experimental measurements of stability and thermophysical properties of two different kinds of nanofluids, i.e. MoS2 nanowires and WS2 nanosheets dispersed in same heat transfer fluid. It showed very interesting results for enhancement of concentrating solar power applications.

Overall the experimental methods, data, and results all appear well conceived and executed.

I have some minor comments. 

Comment: For the DLS measurement data in Fig. 2, the particle size of MoS2 looks still increasing at 7 days. If you can show more data after 7 days with saturation of the particle size, it might help to strengthen your conclusion.

Answer: Thanks for this comment. It is true, more data can help to support our conclusion. Unfortunately, we have not more data of this nanofluid. According to stable extinction values, the stability is close.

 

Comment: In line 58, can you explain a little more about ref. [12]? Readers might be wondering what are interesting results.

Answer: The results reported in Ref.[12] has been described in the new version of the manuscript.

 

Comment: Some minor typos or grammatical errors: line 42 "to storage  store energy", line 67 "commonly common sedimentation", line 100 "to performanceperform DLS", line 131 "exhibits the highest higher extinction coefficient"

Answer: Typos have been corrected in the new version of the manuscript.

 

Reviewer 3 Report

The authors presented their work on stability and thermal properties of nanofluids and in general, this manuscript is well written and well organized. If possible, a little bit expansion of the results, particularly for any parametric study could be helpful.

Author Response

Comment: The authors presented their work on stability and thermal properties of nanofluids and in general, this manuscript is well written and well organized. If possible, a little bit expansion of the results, particularly for any parametric study could be helpful.

Answer: An analysis of the Mouromtseff number and the heat transfer coefficient has been included in the new version of the manuscript.