IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v251y2025ics0960148125010286.html

Designing high-efficiency parabolic trough receiver tubes via AI-assisted simulation

Author

Listed:
  • Rabienataj Darzi, A. Ali
  • Razbin, Milad
  • Allahdadi, Ali
  • Mousavi, S. Morteza
  • Taylor, Robert A.
  • Li, Ming

Abstract

This study investigates the application of twisted lobed tubes in parabolic troughs to enhance thermal performance by overcoming limitations in heat transfer efficiency. Twisted lobed tubes can promote turbulent flow and increase surface area, but finding the optimum design and operation parameters (e.g., twisted pitch ratio, lobe number, and Reynolds number) is difficult since these parameters are linked together for influencing the heat transfer rate, pressure drop, and thermal performance. To address this technical gap, artificial neural networks were integrated with numerical simulations (using k-ω shear-stress transport turbulence model and the finite volume method) to evaluate how design parameters affect performance. The results indicate that thermal performance and the relative Nusselt number exhibit similar behaviour, while the relative friction factor has minimal impact on performance variations. The optimal configuration identified is a tube with 7 lobes, a relative pitch of 4, and a Reynolds number of 5,000, achieving a thermal performance of 1.97, a relative Nusselt number of 2.28, and a relative friction factor of 1.56. The presented approach demonstrates the potential of combining numerical simulations, artificial neural networks, and optimization algorithms to design more efficient solar thermal receivers, paving the way for broader solar thermal system adoption.

Suggested Citation

  • Rabienataj Darzi, A. Ali & Razbin, Milad & Allahdadi, Ali & Mousavi, S. Morteza & Taylor, Robert A. & Li, Ming, 2025. "Designing high-efficiency parabolic trough receiver tubes via AI-assisted simulation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:251:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125010286
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123366
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148125010286
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2025.123366?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhang, Tianyi & Chen, Lei & Wang, Jin, 2023. "Multi-objective optimization of elliptical tube fin heat exchangers based on neural networks and genetic algorithm," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    2. He, Ya-Ling & Xiao, Jie & Cheng, Ze-Dong & Tao, Yu-Bing, 2011. "A MCRT and FVM coupled simulation method for energy conversion process in parabolic trough solar collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 976-985.
    3. Shakibi, Hamid & Shokri, Afshar & Sobhani, Behnam & Yari, Mortaza, 2023. "Numerical analysis and optimization of a novel photovoltaic thermal solar unit improved by Nano-PCM as an energy storage media and finned collector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    4. 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).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ma, Haiwen & Liu, Peng & Huang, Lu & Ren, Tingting & Ge, Yanlin & Chen, Lingen, 2024. "Heat transfer enhancement in parabolic trough receiver based on exergy destruction minimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    2. Chen, Zhuo & Han, Xinyue & Ma, Yu, 2024. "Performance analysis of a novel direct absorption parabolic trough solar collector with combined absorption using MCRT and FVM coupled method," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    3. Ben Taher, M.A. & Pelay, U. & Russeil, S. & Bougeard, D., 2023. "A novel design to optimize the optical performances of parabolic trough collector using Taguchi, ANOVA and grey relational analysis methods," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    4. Debabrata Barik & Arun M. & Muhammad Ahsan Saeed & Tholkappiyan Ramachandran, 2022. "Experimental and Computational Analysis of Aluminum-Coated Dimple and Plain Tubes in Solar Water Heater System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-18, December.
    5. Xu, Yang & Li, Ming-Jia & Zheng, Zhang-Jing & Xue, Xiao-Dai, 2018. "Melting performance enhancement of phase change material by a limited amount of metal foam: Configurational optimization and economic assessment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 868-880.
    6. Bitam, El Wardi & Demagh, Yassine & Hachicha, Ahmed A. & Benmoussa, Hocine & Kabar, Yassine, 2018. "Numerical investigation of a novel sinusoidal tube receiver for parabolic trough technology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 494-510.
    7. Qiu, Yu & Xu, Yucong & Li, Qing & Wang, Jikang & Wang, Qiliang & Liu, Bin, 2021. "Efficiency enhancement of a solar trough collector by combining solar and hot mirrors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    8. Chang, Yue & Jia, Yulong & Hong, Tan, 2023. "Comprehensive analysis and multi-objective optimization of an innovative power generation system using biomass gasification and LNG regasification processes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    9. Sarabi, Mohammad & Hekmat, Mohamad Hamed, 2024. "An experimental study on performance improvement of concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems using phase change materials (PCMs)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    10. Chen, Ying & Liu, Yuxuan & Nam, Eun-Young & Zhang, Yang & Dahlak, Aida, 2023. "Exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental analysis and optimization of an integrated double-flash-binary geothermal system and dual-pressure ORC using zeotropic mixtures; multi-objective optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    11. Cheng, Ze-Dong & He, Ya-Ling & Qiu, Yu, 2015. "A detailed nonuniform thermal model of a parabolic trough solar receiver with two halves and two inactive ends," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 139-147.
    12. Mwesigye, Aggrey & Meyer, Josua P., 2017. "Optimal thermal and thermodynamic performance of a solar parabolic trough receiver with different nanofluids and at different concentration ratios," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 393-413.
    13. Lu, Jianfeng & Ding, Jing & Yang, Jianping & Yang, Xiaoxi, 2013. "Nonuniform heat transfer model and performance of parabolic trough solar receiver," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 666-675.
    14. He, Ya-Ling & Zhou, Yi-Peng & Hu, Yi-huang & Hung, Tzu-Chen, 2020. "A multiscale-multiphysics integrated model to investigate the coupling effects of non-uniform illumination on concentrated photovoltaic system with nanostructured front surface," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    15. Lei, Dongqiang & Fu, Xuqiang & Ren, Yucong & Yao, Fangyuan & Wang, Zhifeng, 2019. "Temperature and thermal stress analysis of parabolic trough receivers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 403-413.
    16. Wang, Kun & He, Ya-Ling & Qiu, Yu & Zhang, Yuwen, 2016. "A novel integrated simulation approach couples MCRT and Gebhart methods to simulate solar radiation transfer in a solar power tower system with a cavity receiver," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 93-107.
    17. Guo, Jia-Qi & Li, Ming-Jia & Xu, Jin-Liang & Yan, Jun-Jie & Wang, Kun, 2019. "Thermodynamic performance analysis of different supercritical Brayton cycles using CO2-based binary mixtures in the molten salt solar power tower systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 785-798.
    18. Ju, Xing & Abd El-Samie, Mostafa M. & Xu, Chao & Yu, Hangyu & Pan, Xinyu & Yang, Yongping, 2020. "A fully coupled numerical simulation of a hybrid concentrated photovoltaic/thermal system that employs a therminol VP-1 based nanofluid as a spectral beam filter," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    19. Haedr Abdalha Mahmood Alsalame & Kang Kyeong Sik & Gwi Hyun Lee, 2024. "Comparative Numerical and Experimental Analyses of Conical Solar Collector and Spot Fresnel Concentrator," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-16, October.
    20. Yang, S. & Sensoy, T.S. & Ordonez, J.C., 2018. "Dynamic 3D volume element model of a parabolic trough solar collector for simulation and optimization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 509-526.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:251:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125010286. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.