Numerical analysis of thermal-hydraulic properties of turbulent aerosol-carbon black nanofluid flow in corrugated solar collectors with double application

Abstract

In this study the effects of corrugated absorber plate and using aerosol-carbon black nanofluid on heat transfer and turbulent flow in solar collectors with double application and air heating collectors, were numerically investigated. The two-dimensional continuity, momentum and energy equation were solved by finite volume and SIMPLE algorithm. In the present investigation all the simulations were done for two different angles of tilt of collector according to horizon, that these angles were the optimum ones for the period of six months setting. As a result the corrugated absorber plate was inspected in the case of triangle, rectangle and sinuous with the wave length of 1 mm and wave amplitude of 3 mm in turbulent flow regime and Reynolds number between 2500 to 4000. Choosing the proper geometry was carried out based on the best performance evaluation criteria (PEC), for collectors with dual usage and increasing the air temperature from collector inlet to outlet for air heating collector. The results revealed that using corrugated absorber plate has a considerable influence on flow field and heat transfer. For all times of the year the highest PEC was obtained for corrugated Sinusoidal model, however the highest temperature increase from inlet to outlet was obtained for rectangular corrugated model.