Determination of Parabolic Trough Solar Collector Efficiency Using Nanofluid: A Comprehensive Numerical Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamidreza Khakrah ◽  
Amir Shamloo ◽  
Siamak Kazemzadeh Hannani
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Metallic Nanoparticle ◽  
Velocity Magnitude ◽  
Parabolic Trough Solar Collector

Due to significant reduction in fossil fuel sources, several researches have been conducted recently to explore modern sources of renewable energy. One of the major fields in the category of renewable energy harnessing devices is parabolic trough solar collector (PTC). Several parameters have effect on the overall efficiency of the PTCs. As the effect of these parameters is coupled to each other, a comprehensive investigation is necessary. In the present study, a numerical analysis is performed to examine the efficiency of PTCs via variation of several governing parameters (e.g., wind velocity magnitude, nanoparticles volume fraction, inlet temperature, and reflector's orientation). A detailed set of absorber, reflector, and protection glass in addition to the surrounding environment is modeled to capture sufficiently accurate data. The working fluid is assumed to be nanofluid to inspect the advantage of metallic nanoparticle addition to the base fluid. The Monte Carlo radiation tracing method is utilized to calculate the solar gain on the absorber tube. According to the obtained results, the efficiencies are reduced by 1–3% by rotating the reflector by 30 deg relative to wind direction. Moreover, 14.3% and 12.4% efficiency enhancement is obtained by addition of 5% volume fraction of Al2O3 to the base synthetic oil for horizontal and rotated reflectors, respectively.

scholarly journals Sensitive Analysis for the Efficiency of a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector Based on Orthogonal Experiment

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyan Liu ◽  
Jing Huang ◽  
Qianjun Mao
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Efficiency ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Orthogonal Experiment ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Outlet Temperature ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Pipe Length ◽  
Climate Region ◽  
Parabolic Trough Solar Collector

A multitude of the researches focus on the factors of the thermal efficiency of a parabolic trough solar collector, that is, the optical-thermal efficiency. However, it is limited to a single or double factors for available system. The aim of this paper is to investigate the multifactors effect on the system’s efficiency in cold climate region. Taking climatic performance into account, an average outlet temperature of LS-2 collector has been simulated successfully by coupling SolTrace software with CFD software. Effects of different factors on instantaneous efficiency have been determined by orthogonal experiment and single factor experiment. After that, the influence degree of different factors on the collector instantaneous efficiency is obtained clearly. The results show that the order of effect extent for average maximal deviation of each factor is inlet temperature, solar radiation intensity, diameter, flow rate, condensation area, pipe length, and ambient temperature. The encouraging results will provide a reference for the exploitation and utilization of parabolic trough solar collector in cold climate region.

scholarly journals Performance Improvement of the Parabolic Trough Solar Collector Using Different Types of Fluids with Numerical Simulation

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 332-347
Author(s):  
Saad T. Hamidi ◽  
Fikrat A.K. Fattah ◽  
Mohammed S. Ghanam
Keyword(s):  
Solar Collector ◽  
Tracking System ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Solar Concentrators ◽  
Engineering Department ◽  
Useful Heat ◽  
Parabolic Trough Solar Collector

Solar concentrators are an important facility to utilize the solar energy. There are many kinds of solar concentrators. In this work  an experimental has been implemented to improve the thermal performance of Parabolic Trough Solar Collector (PTSC) using three different fluids as a working fluid (water, nanoparticles of  CuO  mixed with distilled water nanoparticles of   mixed with  distilled water) with concentration ratio 0.01% and mass flow rate 20Lt/hr without tracking system. The experimental tests have been carried out in electro-mechanical engineering department at university of technology in Baghdad city during October 2017 and daytime between (9am -15pm) hours. The obtained results for three different fluids are as follows:  - Using (CuO + distilled water) as a working fluid increases the average of the output temperatures by 10.4%,  the average of useful heat gains   increases  by 11%  and the average of the collector efficiencies increases by15%.    - Using ( +distilled water) as a working fluid increased the average of output temperatures by 4%, the average of useful heat gains is increased by 6.5% and the average of collector efficiencies is increased by 8.2%.  

scholarly journals An Investigation of Hybrid Solar-Steam Power Plant: A case study in Iraq

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 199-216
Author(s):  
Dr. Karima Esmail Amori ◽  
Randa Rashid Sari
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Feed Water ◽  
Outlet Temperature ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Parabolic Trough Solar Collector ◽  
Side Flow

 In this work integrating Al-Zubaydia (Kut-Iraq) thermal power plant with solar thermal system is studied for heating feed water by solar energy to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gases emission. A closed type Parabolic Trough Solar Collector (PTSC) is designed, constructed, instrumented, and tested. Its thermal characteristics are reported under Iraq climate conditions for the period extended from June, to September 2017. The collector heat gain, efficiency, absorber temperature and heat exchanger effectiveness (considered as feed water heater) were presented for absorber side flow rates of (0.15, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) lpm of water or oil), and shell side water flow rates of (0.4, 0.5, 0.6lpm). Results show that the maximum obtained thermal efficiency of parabolic trough solar collector was 83.33% for oil working fluid. The maximum obtained oil outlet temperature was 106 oC at solar noon for (0.15) lpm. Theoretical results showed that the fuel save mode needs collector area of (32842 m2), while that needed for power boosting is (102569 m2) for the same thermal cycle efficiency. The fuel save mode reported a reduction in greenhouse emission.

scholarly journals ENHANCEMENT OF EFFICACY AND HEAT TRANSFER CHARACTERISTICS OF TIO2 NANO FLUIDS UNDER TURBULENT FLOW CONDITIONS IN PARABOLIC TROUGH SOLAR COLLECTOR

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.Dilip Kumar ◽  
T.Srinivasa Rao ◽  
M.Srinivas ◽  
K.Ashok Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Turbulent Flow ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Base Fluid ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Convective Heat Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Energy Parameter ◽  
Maximum Efficiency ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Parabolic Trough Solar Collector

The efficacy of a parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC) was improved by using TiO2/DI-H2O (De-Ionized water) nanofluid. Working samples consisting of nanofluids with concentrations of 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% and 0.5% were compared with deionized water (the base fluid) at different flow rates under turbulent flow regimes (2850 ˂Re ˂ 7440). The experiments were designed as per ASHRAE 93 (2010) standards. Heat transfer and the flow characteristics of nanofluids through the collector were studied, and empirical correlations were developed in terms of the Nusselt number, friction factor, and performance index. The convective heat transfer coefficient was improved up to 23.84% by using TiO2 nanofluids instead of the base fluid. It was found that TiO2 nanofluid with a volume fraction of 0.3% (at a mass flow rate of 0.0689 kg/s) will provide the maximum efficiency enhancement in the PTSC (9.66% higher than the water-based collector). Consequently, the absorbed energy parameter was found to be 10.3% greater than that of the base fluid.

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