IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v91y2018icp358-375.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Enhancing the performance of parabolic trough collectors using nanofluids and turbulators

Author

Listed:
  • Bellos, Evangelos
  • Tzivanidis, Christos
  • Tsimpoukis, Dimitrios

Abstract

Parabolic trough collector is one of the most usual solar collectors for applications up to 400 °C. The thermal enhancement of this collector concentrates a lot of interest and various techniques are tested in order for the thermal efficiency to be maximized with a reasonable penalty in the pressure drop. The use of nanofluids as working fluids, as well as the use of flow turbulators, mainly inserts and internal fins or tube dimples are the main techniques which are examined. The objective of this work is to give a complete literature review of the existing studies on this domain and to present a numerical comparative analysis between the most usual thermal enhancement techniques. More specifically, the use of oil-based nanofluids with 6% CuO is compared with the use of internal rectangular fins in the absorber, while the combination of these techniques is also examined. The analysis is conducted with a validated CFD model in SolidWorks Flow Simulation for various fluid temperature levels. According to the final results, the use of nanofluids leads to 0.76% thermal efficiency enhancement, the use of internal fins to 1.10% and the combination of these techniques to 1.54%. Moreover, emphasis is given in the pressure drop of the examined cases and in the evaluation criteria which are used in every case.

Suggested Citation

  • Bellos, Evangelos & Tzivanidis, Christos & Tsimpoukis, Dimitrios, 2018. "Enhancing the performance of parabolic trough collectors using nanofluids and turbulators," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 358-375.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:91:y:2018:i:c:p:358-375
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2018.03.091
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032118301862
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2018.03.091?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. 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.
    2. Bellos, Evangelos & Tzivanidis, Christos, 2017. "Parametric analysis and optimization of an Organic Rankine Cycle with nanofluid based solar parabolic trough collectors," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(PB), pages 1376-1393.
    3. Agrafiotis, Christos & Roeb, Martin & Sattler, Christian, 2015. "A review on solar thermal syngas production via redox pair-based water/carbon dioxide splitting thermochemical cycles," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 254-285.
    4. Mohammad Zadeh, P. & Sokhansefat, T. & Kasaeian, A.B. & Kowsary, F. & Akbarzadeh, A., 2015. "Hybrid optimization algorithm for thermal analysis in a solar parabolic trough collector based on nanofluid," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 857-864.
    5. Loni, R. & Askari Asli-ardeh, E. & Ghobadian, B. & Kasaeian, A.B. & Gorjian, Sh., 2017. "Thermodynamic analysis of a solar dish receiver using different nanofluids," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 749-760.
    6. Wang, P. & Liu, D.Y. & Xu, C., 2013. "Numerical study of heat transfer enhancement in the receiver tube of direct steam generation with parabolic trough by inserting metal foams," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 449-460.
    7. Mwesigye, Aggrey & Huan, Zhongjie & Meyer, Josua P., 2015. "Thermodynamic optimisation of the performance of a parabolic trough receiver using synthetic oil–Al2O3 nanofluid," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 398-412.
    8. Bellos, E. & Tzivanidis, C. & Antonopoulos, K.A. & Gkinis, G., 2016. "Thermal enhancement of solar parabolic trough collectors by using nanofluids and converging-diverging absorber tube," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 213-222.
    9. Evangelos Bellos & Christos Tzivanidis, 2017. "Optimization of a Solar-Driven Trigeneration System with Nanofluid-Based Parabolic Trough Collectors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-31, June.
    10. Sandeep, H.M. & Arunachala, U.C., 2017. "Solar parabolic trough collectors: A review on heat transfer augmentation techniques," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 1218-1231.
    11. Kaloudis, E. & Papanicolaou, E. & Belessiotis, V., 2016. "Numerical simulations of a parabolic trough solar collector with nanofluid using a two-phase model," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 218-229.
    12. Fuqiang, Wang & Ziming, Cheng & Jianyu, Tan & Yuan, Yuan & Yong, Shuai & Linhua, Liu, 2017. "Progress in concentrated solar power technology with parabolic trough collector system: A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1314-1328.
    13. 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.
    14. Mwesigye, Aggrey & Bello-Ochende, Tunde & Meyer, Josua P., 2014. "Heat transfer and thermodynamic performance of a parabolic trough receiver with centrally placed perforated plate inserts," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 989-1003.
    15. 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.
    16. Jamil, Basharat & Akhtar, Naiem, 2017. "Comparison of empirical models to estimate monthly mean diffuse solar radiation from measured data: Case study for humid-subtropical climatic region of India," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 1326-1342.
    17. Ravi Kumar, K. & Reddy, K.S., 2009. "Thermal analysis of solar parabolic trough with porous disc receiver," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(9), pages 1804-1812, September.
    18. Reddy, K.S. & Ravi Kumar, K. & Ajay, C.S., 2015. "Experimental investigation of porous disc enhanced receiver for solar parabolic trough collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 308-319.
    19. Zarza, Eduardo & Valenzuela, Loreto & León, Javier & Hennecke, Klaus & Eck, Markus & Weyers, H.-Dieter & Eickhoff, Martin, 2004. "Direct steam generation in parabolic troughs: Final results and conclusions of the DISS project," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(5), pages 635-644.
    20. Song, Xingwang & Dong, Guobo & Gao, Fangyuan & Diao, Xungang & Zheng, Liqing & Zhou, Fuyun, 2014. "A numerical study of parabolic trough receiver with nonuniform heat flux and helical screw-tape inserts," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 771-782.
    21. Jamal-Abad, Milad Tajik & Saedodin, Seyfollah & Aminy, Mohammad, 2017. "Experimental investigation on a solar parabolic trough collector for absorber tube filled with porous media," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 156-163.
    22. Jaramillo, O.A. & Borunda, Mónica & Velazquez-Lucho, K.M. & Robles, M., 2016. "Parabolic trough solar collector for low enthalpy processes: An analysis of the efficiency enhancement by using twisted tape inserts," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 125-141.
    23. Salgado Conrado, L. & Rodriguez-Pulido, A. & Calderón, G., 2017. "Thermal performance of parabolic trough solar collectors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 1345-1359.
    24. Zhu, Xiaowei & Zhu, Lei & Zhao, Jingquan, 2017. "Wavy-tape insert designed for managing highly concentrated solar energy on absorber tube of parabolic trough receiver," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 1146-1155.
    25. 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.
    26. Jamil, Basharat & Akhtar, Naiem, 2017. "Comparative analysis of diffuse solar radiation models based on sky-clearness index and sunshine period for humid-subtropical climatic region of India: A case study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 329-355.
    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. 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).
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. Bellos, Evangelos & Tzivanidis, Christos, 2018. "Investigation of a star flow insert in a parabolic trough solar collector," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 86-102.
    5. Manikandan, G.K. & Iniyan, S. & Goic, Ranko, 2019. "Enhancing the optical and thermal efficiency of a parabolic trough collector – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1524-1540.
    6. 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.
    7. Hachicha, Ahmed Amine & Yousef, Bashria A.A. & Said, Zafar & Rodríguez, Ivette, 2019. "A review study on the modeling of high-temperature solar thermal collector systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 280-298.
    8. 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.
    9. Liu, Peng & Dong, Zhimin & Xiao, Hui & Liu, Zhichun & Liu, Wei, 2021. "Thermal-hydraulic performance analysis of a novel parabolic trough receiver with double tube for solar cascade heat collection," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    10. Zhu, Xiaowei & Zhu, Lei & Zhao, Jingquan, 2017. "Wavy-tape insert designed for managing highly concentrated solar energy on absorber tube of parabolic trough receiver," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 1146-1155.
    11. Mohammed, Hussein A. & Vuthaluru, Hari B. & Liu, Shaomin, 2022. "Thermohydraulic and thermodynamics performance of hybrid nanofluids based parabolic trough solar collector equipped with wavy promoters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 401-426.
    12. Fuqiang, Wang & Ziming, Cheng & Jianyu, Tan & Yuan, Yuan & Yong, Shuai & Linhua, Liu, 2017. "Progress in concentrated solar power technology with parabolic trough collector system: A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1314-1328.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. Kurşun, Burak, 2019. "Thermal performance assessment of internal longitudinal fins with sinusoidal lateral surfaces in parabolic trough receiver tubes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 816-827.
    16. Yang, S. & Ordonez, J.C., 2019. "3D thermal-hydraulic analysis of a symmetric wavy parabolic trough absorber pipe," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    17. Peng, Hao & Li, Meilin & Liang, Xingang, 2020. "Thermal-hydraulic and thermodynamic performance of parabolic trough solar receiver partially filled with gradient metal foam," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    18. Xiao, Hui & Liu, Peng & Liu, Zhichun & Liu, Wei, 2021. "Performance analyses in parabolic trough collectors by inserting novel inclined curved-twisted baffles," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(P2), pages 14-27.
    19. Moghimi, M.A. & Ahmadi, G., 2018. "Wind barriers optimization for minimizing collector mirror soiling in a parabolic trough collector plant," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 413-423.
    20. Cheng, Ze-Dong & Zhao, Xue-Ru & He, Ya-Ling, 2018. "Novel optical efficiency formulas for parabolic trough solar collectors: Computing method and applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 682-697.

    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:rensus:v:91:y:2018:i:c:p:358-375. 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/600126/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.