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Enhancing the Performance of Evacuated and Non-Evacuated Parabolic Trough Collectors Using Twisted Tape Inserts, Perforated Plate Inserts and Internally Finned Absorber

Author

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  • Evangelos Bellos

    (Thermal Department, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou, Heroon Polytechniou 9, 15780 Athens, Greece)

  • Christos Tzivanidis

    (Thermal Department, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou, Heroon Polytechniou 9, 15780 Athens, Greece)

Abstract

The thermal enhancement of parabolic trough collectors is a critical issue and numerous ideas have been applied in the literature on this domain. The objective of this paper is to investigate some usual thermal enhancement techniques for improving the performance of evacuated and non-evacuated receivers of parabolic trough solar collectors. More specifically, the use of twisted tape inserts, perforated plate inserts, and internally finned absorbers are compared with the reference case of the smooth absorber. The analysis is conducted with a developed and validated thermal model in Engineering Equation Solver. The collector is investigated for a typical flow rate of 100 L/min and for inlet temperatures between 50 °C and 350 °C with Syltherm 800 as working fluid. According to the final results, the use of internally finned absorber leads to the highest thermal efficiency enhancement, which is up to 2.1% for the non-evacuated collector and up to 1.6% for the evacuated tube collector. The perforated plate inserts and the twisted tape inserts were found to lead to lower enhancements, which are up to 1.8% and 1.5%, respectively, for the non-evacuated collector, while they are up to 1.4% and 1.2%, respectively, for the evacuated collector. Moreover, the pressure drop increase with the use of the thermal enhancement methods is investigated and the use of internally finned absorber is found again to be the superior technique with the performance evaluation criterion to be ranged from 1.5 to 1.8 for this case.

Suggested Citation

  • Evangelos Bellos & Christos Tzivanidis, 2018. "Enhancing the Performance of Evacuated and Non-Evacuated Parabolic Trough Collectors Using Twisted Tape Inserts, Perforated Plate Inserts and Internally Finned Absorber," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-28, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:5:p:1129-:d:144346
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. 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.
    3. Agung Tri Wijayanta & Pranowo & Mirmanto & Budi Kristiawan & Muhammad Aziz, 2019. "Internal Flow in an Enhanced Tube Having Square-cut Twisted Tape Insert," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-12, January.
    4. Vahidinia, F. & Khorasanizadeh, H. & Aghaei, A., 2023. "Energy, exergy, economic and environmental evaluations of a finned absorber tube parabolic trough collector utilizing hybrid and mono nanofluids and comparison," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 185-199.
    5. Bartosz Stanek & Jakub Ochmann & Daniel Węcel & Łukasz Bartela, 2023. "Study of Twisted Tape Inserts Segmental Application in Low-Concentrated Solar Parabolic Trough Collectors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-28, April.
    6. Hanane Ait Lahoussine Ouali & Ahmed Alami Merrouni & Shahariar Chowdhury & Kuaanan Techato & Sittiporn Channumsin & Nasim Ullah, 2022. "Optimization and Techno-Economic Appraisal of Parabolic Trough Solar Power Plant under Different Scenarios: A Case Study of Morocco," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-20, November.
    7. Piotr Bogusław Jasiński, 2021. "Numerical Study of Heat Transfer Intensification in a Circular Tube Using a Thin, Radiation-Absorbing Insert. Part 2: Thermal Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-18, July.
    8. Agung Tri Wijayanta & Muhammad Aziz & Keishi Kariya & Akio Miyara, 2018. "Numerical Study of Heat Transfer Enhancement of Internal Flow Using Double-Sided Delta-Winglet Tape Insert," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-15, November.
    9. Gong, Jing-hu & Wang, Jun & Lund, Peter D., 2021. "Improving stability and heat transfer through a beam in a semi-circular absorber tube of a large-aperture trough solar concentrator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    10. Gong, Jing-hu & Wang, Jun & Lund, Peter D. & Zhao, Dan-dan & Xu, Jing-wen & Jin, Yi-hao, 2021. "Comparative study of heat transfer enhancement using different fins in semi-circular absorber tube for large-aperture trough solar concentrator," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 1229-1241.
    11. Mohamed Allam & Mohamed Tawfik & Maher Bekheit & Emad El-Negiry, 2022. "Experimental Investigation on Performance Enhancement of Parabolic Trough Concentrator with Helical Rotating Shaft Insert," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-25, November.
    12. Víctor Echarri-Iribarren & Carlos Rizo-Maestre & Fernando Echarri-Iribarren, 2018. "Healthy Climate and Energy Savings: Using Thermal Ceramic Panels and Solar Thermal Panels in Mediterranean Housing Blocks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-32, October.

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