Influence of Internal Fins and Nanoparticles on Heat Transfer Enhancement through a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector

Abstract

Current article presents a numerical investigation for three dimensional turbulent flow using the MCRT method to simulate solar radiations as a heat flux and the finite volume method in Ansys Fluent to simulate the equations. The fluid in absorber is a synthetic oil having eight hundred index mixed with Aluminium Oxide nanoparticles to enhance the heat transfer process. The study comparing different cases, including different numbers of longitudinal fins assembled inside the absorber with two arrangements and three particular Reynolds number in addition to the testing concentration ratio of the heat flux using the MCRT method. The impact of using three different numbers of fins (2, 4 and 6) at two different arrangements ("a" and "b") were presented. The three Reynolds number used was (18600, 23000 and 28000). Two Rim angles of the collector are tested (80o) and (120o), results showed that (120º) was achieved high outlet temperature with a concentration ratio (CR=82.47). The effects on outlet temperature, friction factor, Nusselt number, and then on the performance evaluation criterion (PEC) of the absorber tube were displayed. The results of the study proved that using nanofluid and finned absorber can increase the absorber hydrothermal performance and using (6) fins of arrangement "b" shows better performance in terms of heat transfer than arrangement "a".