Numerical study of perforated obstacles effects on the performance of solar parabolic trough collector

Tayeb Fahim; Samir Laouedj; Aissa Abderrahmane; Zied Driss; El Sayed Mohamed Tag-ElDin; Kamel Guedri; Obai Younis

doi:10.3389/fchem.2022.1089080

Numerical study of perforated obstacles effects on the performance of solar parabolic trough collector

Front Chem. 2023 Jan 17:10:1089080. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2022.1089080. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Tayeb Fahim¹, Samir Laouedj¹, Aissa Abderrahmane², Zied Driss³, El Sayed Mohamed Tag-ElDin⁴, Kamel Guedri⁵, Obai Younis⁶

Affiliations

¹ Materials and Reactive Systems Laboratory (LMSR), Djillali Liabes University, Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria.
² Laboratoire de Physique Quantique de la Matière et Modélisation Mathématique (LPQ3M), Université Mustapha Stambouli de Mascara, Mascara, Algeria.
³ Laboratory of Electromechanical Systems (LASEM), National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
⁴ Center of Research, Faculty of Engineering, Future University in Egypt, New Cairo, Egypt.
⁵ Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Islamic Architecture, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering in Wadi Addwasir, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-kharj, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

The current work presents and discusses a numerical analysis of improving heat transmission in the receiver of a parabolic trough solar collector by introducing perforated barriers. While the proposed approach to enhance the collector's performance is promising, the use of obstacles results in increased pressure loss. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model analysis is conducted based on the renormalization-group (RNG) k-ɛ turbulent model associated with standard wall function using thermal oil D12 as working fluid The thermo-hydraulic analysis of the receiver tube with perforated obstacles is taken for various configurations and Reynolds number ranging from 18,860 to 81,728. The results are compared with that of the receiver without perforated obstacles. The receiver tube with three holes (PO3) showed better heat transfer characteristics. In addition, the Nusselt number (Nu) increases about 115% with the increase of friction factor 5-6.5 times and the performance evaluation criteria (PEC) changes from 1.22 to 1.24. The temperature of thermal oil fluid attains its maximum value at the exit, and higher temperatures (462.1 K) are found in the absorber tube with perforated obstacles with three holes (PO3). Accordingly, using perforated obstacles receiver for parabolic trough concentrator is highly recommended where significant enhancement of system's performance is achieved.

Keywords: Nusselt number; nanofluid; numerical investigation; parabolic trough solar collector; perforated obstacles.

Grants and funding

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research & Innovation, Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia for funding this research work through the project number: IFP22UQU4331317DSR174.