IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v205y2023icp30-52.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Performance analysis of a concentrated direct absorption solar collector (DASC) with nanofluids using computational fluid dynamics and discrete ordinates radiation modelling (CFD-DORM)

Author

Listed:
  • Mojumder, Juwel C.
  • Aminossadati, Saiied M.
  • Leonardi, Christopher R.

Abstract

This study utilises computational modelling to investigate the application of thermal nanofluids in direct absorption solar collectors (DASC), including the effect of optical and thermal properties on the prediction of thermal energy production. A single-phase, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model has been used to understand the hydrothermal behaviour of nanofluids operated at high temperature. A non-gray discrete ordinate radiation model (DORM) was coupled to the CFD to capture the dependence of optical parameters on the bulk temperature variation. In order to increase the robustness of the numerical modelling approach, the extinction coefficient of the solar participating media, including the reflective and transmissive behaviour of the semitransparent wall, were taken into consideration. Results show that the exergy efficiency is lower when using fully diffusive conditions at the semitransparent wall as opposed to fully specular conditions. Overall, exergy efficiency decreases with the Nusselt number, Nu, (until Nu=10∼12), although it increases with non-dimensional irradiation. When modelling with temperature-dependent as opposed to temperature-independent properties of the working fluid, the Carnot efficiency was found to vary by 0.67% to 3.30%. Additionally, a correlation between the hydraulic entrance length and Reynolds number, Re, (in the range Re<1,000) has been established and this can be applied for the further hydrothermal analysis. This study serves as a basis for future numerical modelling of any volumetric solar receiver that takes into account the various key system performance indicators of the solar participating media.

Suggested Citation

  • Mojumder, Juwel C. & Aminossadati, Saiied M. & Leonardi, Christopher R., 2023. "Performance analysis of a concentrated direct absorption solar collector (DASC) with nanofluids using computational fluid dynamics and discrete ordinates radiation modelling (CFD-DORM)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 30-52.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:205:y:2023:i:c:p:30-52
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2023.01.066
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148123000757
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2023.01.066?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. Sainz-Mañas, Miguel & Bataille, Françoise & Caliot, Cyril & Vossier, Alexis & Flamant, Gilles, 2022. "Direct absorption nanofluid-based solar collectors for low and medium temperatures. A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    2. Cheng, Ze-Dong & He, Ya-Ling & Du, Bao-Cun & Wang, Kun & Liang, Qi, 2015. "Geometric optimization on optical performance of parabolic trough solar collector systems using particle swarm optimization algorithm," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 282-293.
    3. Delfani, S. & Karami, M. & Behabadi, M.A. Akhavan-, 2016. "Performance characteristics of a residential-type direct absorption solar collector using MWCNT nanofluid," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(P1), pages 754-764.
    4. Dugaria, Simone & Bortolato, Matteo & Del Col, Davide, 2018. "Modelling of a direct absorption solar receiver using carbon based nanofluids under concentrated solar radiation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(PB), pages 495-508.
    5. Hassani, Samir & Taylor, Robert A. & Mekhilef, Saad & Saidur, R., 2016. "A cascade nanofluid-based PV/T system with optimized optical and thermal properties," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 963-975.
    6. Zhang, Chunxiao & Shen, Chao & Wei, Shen & Zhang, Yingbo & Sun, Cheng, 2021. "Flexible management of heat/electricity of novel PV/T systems with spectrum regulation by Ag nanofluids," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    7. Hassan, H.Z. & Mohamad, A.A., 2012. "A review on solar cold production through absorption technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(7), pages 5331-5348.
    8. Goel, Nipun & Taylor, Robert A. & Otanicar, Todd, 2020. "A review of nanofluid-based direct absorption solar collectors: Design considerations and experiments with hybrid PV/Thermal and direct steam generation collectors," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 903-913.
    9. Allouhi, A. & Kousksou, T. & Jamil, A. & Bruel, P. & Mourad, Y. & Zeraouli, Y., 2015. "Solar driven cooling systems: An updated review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 159-181.
    10. Chen, Meijie & He, Yurong & Zhu, Jiaqi & Wen, Dongsheng, 2016. "Investigating the collector efficiency of silver nanofluids based direct absorption solar collectors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 65-74.
    11. Mwesigye, Aggrey & Yılmaz, İbrahim Halil & Meyer, Josua P., 2018. "Numerical analysis of the thermal and thermodynamic performance of a parabolic trough solar collector using SWCNTs-Therminol®VP-1 nanofluid," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 844-862.
    12. Lee, Seung-Hyun & Choi, Tae Jong & Jang, Seok Pil, 2016. "Thermal efficiency comparison: Surface-based solar receivers with conventional fluids and volumetric solar receivers with nanofluids," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(P1), pages 404-417.
    13. Guo, Peng-hua & Li, Jing-yin & Wang, Yuan, 2014. "Numerical simulations of solar chimney power plant with radiation model," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 24-30.
    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. Vetrivel Kumar Kandasamy & Sivakumar Jaganathan & Ratchagaraja Dhairiyasamy & Silambarasan Rajendran, 2023. "Optimizing the efficiency of solar thermal collectors and studying the effect of particle concentration and stability using nanofluidic analysis," Energy & Environment, , vol. 34(5), pages 1564-1591, August.

    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. Sainz-Mañas, Miguel & Bataille, Françoise & Caliot, Cyril & Vossier, Alexis & Flamant, Gilles, 2022. "Direct absorption nanofluid-based solar collectors for low and medium temperatures. A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    2. Sharaf, Omar Z. & Al-Khateeb, Ashraf N. & Kyritsis, Dimitrios C. & Abu-Nada, Eiyad, 2018. "Direct absorption solar collector (DASC) modeling and simulation using a novel Eulerian-Lagrangian hybrid approach: Optical, thermal, and hydrodynamic interactions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 1132-1145.
    3. 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).
    4. Mallah, Abdul Rahman & Zubir, M.N.M. & Alawi, Omer A. & Kazi, S.N. & Ahmed, W. & Sadri, R. & Kasaeian, Alibakhsh, 2022. "Experimental study on the effects of multi-resonance plasmonic nanoparticles for improving the solar collector efficiency," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 1204-1223.
    5. Dugaria, Simone & Bortolato, Matteo & Del Col, Davide, 2018. "Modelling of a direct absorption solar receiver using carbon based nanofluids under concentrated solar radiation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(PB), pages 495-508.
    6. Elsheikh, A.H. & Sharshir, S.W. & Mostafa, Mohamed E. & Essa, F.A. & Ahmed Ali, Mohamed Kamal, 2018. "Applications of nanofluids in solar energy: A review of recent advances," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3483-3502.
    7. Wang, Kongxiang & He, Yan & Kan, Ankang & Yu, Wei & Wang, Debing & Zhang, Liyie & Zhu, Guihua & Xie, Huaqing & She, Xiaohui, 2019. "Significant photothermal conversion enhancement of nanofluids induced by Rayleigh-Bénard convection for direct absorption solar collectors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    8. Alobaid, Mohammad & Hughes, Ben & Calautit, John Kaiser & O’Connor, Dominic & Heyes, Andrew, 2017. "A review of solar driven absorption cooling with photovoltaic thermal systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 728-742.
    9. Zhang, Chunxiao & Shen, Chao & Zhang, Yingbo & Sun, Cheng & Chwieduk, Dorota & Kalogirou, Soteris A., 2021. "Optimization of the electricity/heat production of a PV/T system based on spectral splitting with Ag nanofluid," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 30-39.
    10. Ma, Ting & Guo, Zhixiong & Lin, Mei & Wang, Qiuwang, 2021. "Recent trends on nanofluid heat transfer machine learning research applied to renewable energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    11. 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).
    12. Bhalla, Vishal & Khullar, Vikrant & Tyagi, Himanshu, 2018. "Experimental investigation of photo-thermal analysis of blended nanoparticles (Al2O3/Co3O4) for direct absorption solar thermal collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 616-626.
    13. Zhu, Guihua & Wang, Lingling & Bing, Naici & Xie, Huaqing & Yu, Wei, 2019. "Enhancement of photothermal conversion performance using nanofluids based on bimetallic Ag-Au alloys in nitrogen-doped graphitic polyhedrons," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 747-755.
    14. Gupta, Varun Kumar & Kumar, Sanjay & Kukreja, Rajeev & Chander, Nikhil, 2023. "Experimental thermal performance investigation of a direct absorption solar collector using hybrid nanofluid of gold nanoparticles with natural extract of Azadirachta Indica leaves," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 1021-1031.
    15. Sharaf, Omar Z. & Al-Khateeb, Ashraf N. & Kyritsis, Dimitrios C. & Abu-Nada, Eiyad, 2019. "Energy and exergy analysis and optimization of low-flux direct absorption solar collectors (DASCs): Balancing power- and temperature-gain," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 861-872.
    16. Huang, Ju & Han, Xinyue & Zhao, Xiaobo & Khosa, Azhar Abbas & Meng, Chunfeng, 2022. "The stability, optical behavior optimization of Ag@SiO2 nanofluids and their application in spectral splitting photovoltaic/thermal receivers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 865-878.
    17. Xu, Bin & Gan, Wen-tao & Wang, Yang-liang & Chen, Xing-ni & Fei, Yue & Pei, Gang, 2023. "Thermal performance of a novel Trombe wall integrated with direct absorption solar collector based on phase change slurry in winter," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 246-258.
    18. 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.
    19. Zhou, Yuekuan & Zheng, Siqian & Hensen, Jan L.M., 2024. "Machine learning-based digital district heating/cooling with renewable integrations and advanced low-carbon transition," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    20. María Herrando & Alba Ramos, 2022. "Photovoltaic-Thermal (PV-T) Systems for Combined Cooling, Heating and Power in Buildings: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-28, April.

    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:205:y:2023:i:c:p:30-52. 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.