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Efficiency enhancement of the parabolic trough solar collector using the rotating absorber tube and nanoparticles

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  • Norouzi, Amir Mohammad
  • Siavashi, Majid
  • Khaliji Oskouei, MohammadHasan

Abstract

Enhancing the thermal performance of parabolic trough collectors (PTC) is of major interest to maximize solar energy absorption. In common PTCs, solar irradiation is focused on the lower part of the absorber tube which causes high temperatures, thermal stress, and tube deformation. To overcome these problems, it is suggested to rotate the absorber tube with a specified frequency to reduce the high surface temperature and increase the solar energy absorption. In addition, a nanofluid (Al2O3-Therminol) is utilized as the heat-carrying fluid. Effects of various parameters, including the rotational speed, absorber tube material, flow rate, and nanoparticles concentration on the collector efficiency were studied. An approximate 2D-transient model of PTC is proposed and a steady-laminar numerical simulation is conducted for the 3D cases. Results indicate that the aluminum is the best choice among the other materials used for the absorber tube, providing about 16 K higher output temperature which is nearly 5% higher than that of the steel. Also, a more uniform surface temperature distribution and a higher collector thermal efficiency could be met. Accordingly, an average increase of 15% in the thermal efficiency of the collector and a maximum decrease of 64 K in the absorber tube temperature are reachable.

Suggested Citation

  • Norouzi, Amir Mohammad & Siavashi, Majid & Khaliji Oskouei, MohammadHasan, 2020. "Efficiency enhancement of the parabolic trough solar collector using the rotating absorber tube and nanoparticles," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 569-584.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:145:y:2020:i:c:p:569-584
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.06.027
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    Cited by:

    1. Tembhare, Saurabh P. & Barai, Divya P. & Bhanvase, Bharat A., 2022. "Performance evaluation of nanofluids in solar thermal and solar photovoltaic systems: A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    2. Shaaban, S., 2021. "Enhancement of the solar trough collector efficiency by optimizing the reflecting mirror profile," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 40-49.
    3. Selimefendigil, Fatih & Öztop, Hakan F., 2020. "Identification of pulsating flow effects with CNT nanoparticles on the performance enhancements of thermoelectric generator (TEG) module in renewable energy applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1076-1086.
    4. Stanek, Bartosz & Wang, Wujun & Bartela, Łukasz, 2023. "A potential solution in reducing the parabolic trough based solar industrial process heat system cost by partially replacing absorbers coatings with non-selective ones in initial loop sections," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    5. Stanek, Bartosz & Grzywnowicz, Krzysztof & Bartela, Łukasz & Węcel, Daniel & Uchman, Wojciech, 2021. "A system analysis of hybrid solar PTC-CPV absorber operation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 635-653.
    6. Amein, Hamza & Akoush, Bassem M. & El-Bakry, M. Medhat & Abubakr, Mohamed & Hassan, Muhammed A., 2022. "Enhancing the energy utilization in parabolic trough concentrators with cracked heat collection elements using a cost-effective rotation mechanism," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 250-266.
    7. Abu-Hamdeh, Nidal H. & Bantan, Rashad A.R. & Khoshvaght-Aliabadi, Morteza & Alimoradi, Ashkan, 2020. "Effects of ribs on thermal performance of curved absorber tube used in cylindrical solar collectors," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 1260-1275.
    8. Amein, Hamza & Kassem, Mahmoud A. & Ali, Shady & Hassan, Muhammed A., 2021. "Integration of transparent insulation shells in linear solar receivers for enhanced energy and exergy performances," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 344-359.
    9. Hao, Menghao & Chen, Lizhi & Chen, Jianxun & Lu, Luyi & Li, Jianlan, 2022. "Safety and efficiency assessment of absorber with an initial offset in a parabolic trough collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 774-789.
    10. Chen, Heng & Mansir, Ibrahim B. & Chauhan, Bhupendra Singh & Al-Zahrani, Ahmed & Deifalla, Ahmed & Hua, Yinhai & Peng, Fan, 2023. "A comprehensive numerical study on the effectiveness of a rotational-based PTC collector integrated porous foam and PV module," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    11. Madadi Avargani, Vahid & Norton, Brian & Rahimi, Amir, 2021. "An open-aperture partially-evacuated receiver for more uniform reflected solar flux in circular-trough reflectors: Comparative performance in air heating applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 11-24.
    12. Ajbar, Wassila & Parrales, A. & Huicochea, A. & Hernández, J.A., 2022. "Different ways to improve parabolic trough solar collectors’ performance over the last four decades and their applications: A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    13. Krzysztof Dutkowski & Marcin Kruzel & Jacek Fiuk & Krzysztof Rokosz & Iwona Michalska-Pożoga & Marcin Szczepanek, 2023. "Experimental Studies on the Influence of Spatial Orientation of a Passive Air Solar Collector on Its Efficiency," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-13, May.
    14. Norouzi, Amir Mohammad & Siavashi, Majid & Ahmadi, Rouhollah & Tahmasbi, Milad, 2021. "Experimental study of a parabolic trough solar collector with rotating absorber tube," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 734-749.
    15. Tang, X.Y. & Yang, W.W. & Yang, Y. & Jiao, Y.H. & Zhang, T., 2021. "A design method for optimizing the secondary reflector of a parabolic trough solar concentrator to achieve uniform heat flux distribution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).

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