Nanofluid turbulent flow in parabolic trough collector: Insulator roof, acentric absorber tube and SiC nanoparticles effects

Abstract

The key purpose of the current study is to design a parabolic trough collector (PTC) having insulator roof and an acentric absorber tube, with nanofluid using single-phase and two-phase mixture models (TPM and SPM). The effects of employing the SPM and TPM on the fluid field and heat transfer of nanofluid (SiC nanoparticles (16–90 nm) and volume fraction (0–4%) to the water and EG-water) in the absorber tube is studied. Results of present investigation shown that for both proposed (novel) and conventional PTC arrangements, the pressure drop (3%), Nusselt number (5%), friction factor (3%), energy efficiency (3%), and performance evaluation criteria (PEC) (3%) employing the TPM are greater than that of SPM. In addition, it is shown that employing the novel PTC presents greater Nusselt number (25%), energy efficiency (30%), and PEC (50%). Temperature field inside the absorber tube and heat transfer fluid zone employing the TPM are greater than that of SPM. Maximum PEC for SiC/EG-water and EG-water nanofluid are 1.67 and 1.70, respectively, for sinusoidal-wavy minichannel having a nanoparticle volume fraction of 4%, nanoparticles diameter of 90 nm, and Reynolds number of 15,001.3. Furthermore, EG-water as base fluid with a nanoparticle diameter of 90 nm presents greater energy efficiency than water.