IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v207y2017icp36-44.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

CFD simulation of an intermediate temperature, two-phase loop thermosiphon for use as a linear solar receiver

Author

Listed:
  • Wang, Yinfeng
  • Yang, Li
  • Wang, Xiaoyuan
  • Chen, Haijun
  • Fan, Hongtu
  • Taylor, Robert A.
  • Zhu, Yuezhao

Abstract

A two-phase, horizontal loop thermosiphon (HLTS) is reported here for its potential use as a receiver for commercial, line focus, solar thermal collectors. The design consists of a horizontal evaporator, a riser, a condenser and a downcomer with a U-turn. Dowtherm A, which is suitable for the temperature range of 473–673K, was adopted as the working fluid in the HLTS. The heat and mass transfer mechanism and performance of the HLTS at different configurations, inclination angles, and with/without the U-turn was investigated across the heat flux range of real applications using the volume of fluid (VOF) model. The results show that the U-turn section effectively prevents bidirectional flow in the loop and improves the heat transfer performance of the device. Different flow phenomena, i.e. stratified fluid flow and drop-wise flow, were found in the horizontal and the inclined condensers, respectively. An inclination angle of 5° was found to significantly improve the heat transfer performance over the horizontal design. As might be expected, the performance continues to improve in larger inclinational angles and higher heat flux inputs. Overall, by providing understanding for the salient two-phase mechanisms, this work should enable researchers to optimize the design of the HLTS for linear focus solar thermal collectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Yinfeng & Yang, Li & Wang, Xiaoyuan & Chen, Haijun & Fan, Hongtu & Taylor, Robert A. & Zhu, Yuezhao, 2017. "CFD simulation of an intermediate temperature, two-phase loop thermosiphon for use as a linear solar receiver," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 36-44.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:207:y:2017:i:c:p:36-44
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.05.168
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261917307341
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.05.168?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 search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wu, Zhiyong & Li, Shidong & Yuan, Guofeng & Lei, Dongqiang & Wang, Zhifeng, 2014. "Three-dimensional numerical study of heat transfer characteristics of parabolic trough receiver," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 902-911.
    2. Jiaqiang, E. & Zhao, Xiaohuan & Liu, Haili & Chen, Jianmei & Zuo, Wei & Peng, Qingguo, 2016. "Field synergy analysis for enhancing heat transfer capability of a novel narrow-tube closed oscillating heat pipe," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 218-228.
    3. Fernández-García, A. & Zarza, E. & Valenzuela, L. & Pérez, M., 2010. "Parabolic-trough solar collectors and their applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(7), pages 1695-1721, September.
    4. El Fadar, A. & Mimet, A. & Pérez-García, M., 2009. "Study of an adsorption refrigeration system powered by parabolic trough collector and coupled with a heat pipe," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(10), pages 2271-2279.
    5. Zhang, Liang & Yu, Zitao & Fan, Liwu & Wang, Wujun & Chen, Huan & Hu, Yacai & Fan, Jianren & Ni, Mingjiang & Cen, Kefa, 2013. "An experimental investigation of the heat losses of a U-type solar heat pipe receiver of a parabolic trough collector-based natural circulation steam generation system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 262-268.
    6. Chaudhry, Hassam Nasarullah & Hughes, Ben Richard & Ghani, Saud Abdul, 2012. "A review of heat pipe systems for heat recovery and renewable energy applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(4), pages 2249-2259.
    7. He, Wei & Hong, Xiaoqiang & Zhao, Xudong & Zhang, Xingxing & Shen, Jinchun & Ji, Jie, 2015. "Operational performance of a novel heat pump assisted solar façade loop-heat-pipe water heating system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 371-382.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yang, Moucun & Moghimi, M.A. & Zhu, Yuezhao & Qiao, Runpeng & Wang, Yinfeng & Taylor, Robert A., 2020. "Optical and thermal performance analysis of a micro parabolic trough collector for building integration," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    2. Wang, Qiliang & Yang, Honglun & Zhong, Shuai & Huang, Yihang & Hu, Mingke & Cao, Jingyu & Pei, Gang & Yang, Hongxing, 2020. "Comprehensive experimental testing and analysis on parabolic trough solar receiver integrated with radiation shield," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    3. Cao, Jingyu & Zheng, Zhanying & Asim, Muhammad & Hu, Mingke & Wang, Qiliang & Su, Yuehong & Pei, Gang & Leung, Michael K.H., 2020. "A review on independent and integrated/coupled two-phase loop thermosyphons," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    4. Alhuyi Nazari, Mohammad & Ahmadi, Mohammad H. & Ghasempour, Roghayeh & Shafii, Mohammad Behshad & Mahian, Omid & Kalogirou, Soteris & Wongwises, Somchai, 2018. "A review on pulsating heat pipes: From solar to cryogenic applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 475-484.

    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. Osorio, Julian D. & Rivera-Alvarez, Alejandro, 2019. "Performance analysis of Parabolic Trough Collectors with Double Glass Envelope," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 1092-1107.
    2. Wang, Yinfeng & Lu, Beibei & Chen, Haijun & Fan, Hongtu & Taylor, Robert A. & Zhu, Yuezhao, 2017. "Experimental investigation of the thermal performance of a horizontal two-phase loop thermosiphon suitable for solar parabolic trough receivers operating at 200–400 °C," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 289-304.
    3. Abdulhamed, Ali Jaber & Adam, Nor Mariah & Ab-Kadir, Mohd Zainal Abidin & Hairuddin, Abdul Aziz, 2018. "Review of solar parabolic-trough collector geometrical and thermal analyses, performance, and applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 822-831.
    4. Zou, Bin & Dong, Jiankai & Yao, Yang & Jiang, Yiqiang, 2016. "An experimental investigation on a small-sized parabolic trough solar collector for water heating in cold areas," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 396-407.
    5. Nkwetta, Dan Nchelatebe & Sandercock, Jim, 2016. "A state-of-the-art review of solar air-conditioning systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1351-1366.
    6. 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.
    7. Kumaresan, G. & Sudhakar, P. & Santosh, R. & Velraj, R., 2017. "Experimental and numerical studies of thermal performance enhancement in the receiver part of solar parabolic trough collectors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 1363-1374.
    8. 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).
    9. Shafieian, Abdellah & Khiadani, Mehdi & Nosrati, Ataollah, 2018. "A review of latest developments, progress, and applications of heat pipe solar collectors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 273-304.
    10. Liu, Shuaishuai & Yang, Bin & Hou, Yutian & Yu, Xiaohui, 2022. "Effects of geometric configurations on the thermal-mechanical properties of parabolic trough receivers based on coupled optical-thermal-stress model," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 929-942.
    11. Li, C. & Wang, R.Z. & Wang, L.W. & Li, T.X. & Chen, Y., 2013. "Experimental study on an adsorption icemaker driven by parabolic trough solar collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 223-233.
    12. Liang, Hongbo & You, Shijun & Zhang, Huan, 2015. "Comparison of different heat transfer models for parabolic trough solar collectors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 105-114.
    13. Huang, Zhen & Li, Zeng-Yao & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2017. "Numerical study on combined natural and forced convection in the fully-developed turbulent region for a horizontal circular tube heated by non-uniform heat flux," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 2194-2208.
    14. Yılmaz, İbrahim Halil & Mwesigye, Aggrey, 2018. "Modeling, simulation and performance analysis of parabolic trough solar collectors: A comprehensive review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 135-174.
    15. Bellos, Evangelos & Tzivanidis, Christos & Tsimpoukis, Dimitrios, 2017. "Multi-criteria evaluation of parabolic trough collector with internally finned absorbers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 540-561.
    16. Alhuyi Nazari, Mohammad & Ahmadi, Mohammad H. & Ghasempour, Roghayeh & Shafii, Mohammad Behshad, 2018. "How to improve the thermal performance of pulsating heat pipes: A review on working fluid," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 630-638.
    17. Yang, Bin & Liu, Shuaishuai & Zhang, Ruirui & Yu, Xiaohui, 2022. "Influence of reflector installation errors on optical-thermal performance of parabolic trough collectors based on a MCRT - FVM coupled model," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 1006-1017.
    18. Fuqiang, Wang & Zhexiang, Tang & Xiangtao, Gong & Jianyu, Tan & Huaizhi, Han & Bingxi, Li, 2016. "Heat transfer performance enhancement and thermal strain restrain of tube receiver for parabolic trough solar collector by using asymmetric outward convex corrugated tube," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 275-292.
    19. Hachicha, Ahmed Amine & Rodríguez, Ivette & Ghenai, Chaouki, 2018. "Thermo-hydraulic analysis and numerical simulation of a parabolic trough solar collector for direct steam generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 152-165.
    20. Jin, Jian & Ling, Yunyi & Hao, Yong, 2017. "Similarity analysis of parabolic-trough solar collectors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 958-965.

    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:appene:v:207:y:2017:i:c:p:36-44. 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.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    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.