Investigation of novel turbulator with and without twisted configuration under turbulent forced convection of a CuO/water nanofluid flow inside a parabolic trough solar collector

Omar Ouabouch; Imad Ait Laasri; Mounir Kriraa; Mohamed Lamsaadi; Omar Ouabouch; Imad Ait Laasri; Mounir Kriraa; Mohamed Lamsaadi

doi:10.3934/matersci.2023007

AIMS Materials Science

2023, Volume 10, Issue 1: 112-138. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2023007

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Investigation of novel turbulator with and without twisted configuration under turbulent forced convection of a CuO/water nanofluid flow inside a parabolic trough solar collector

1.
Research Laboratory in Physics and Sciences for Engineers (LRPSI), Polydisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, B. P 592, Beni-Mellal, Morocco
2.
Laboratory (LaMEE), Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh, Morocco
3.
Green Energy Park (IRESEN, UM6P), Benguerir, Morocco
4.
Laboratory of Engineering, Industrial Management and Innovation, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, Hassan 1st University, Settat, Morocco

Received: 31 July 2022 Revised: 07 December 2022 Accepted: 13 December 2022 Published: 17 January 2023

In this study, we numerically investigated the hydrothermal performance of a parabolic trough solar collector system in which nanofluids are used to transfer thermal energy. The single-phase model has been used to evaluate the respective influences of the spherical shape of nanoparticles with a volume fraction of (φ = 3%), Reynolds number varying between 50,000 ≤ Re ≤ 250,000 and the insertion of a turbulator with and without a twisted configuration on the hydrothermal characteristics created by the turbulent forced convection of a CuO/water nanofluid. The shaped turbulator (+) inserted in the absorber tube had a length turb_L = 2.4 m, a height turb_H = 40 mm and a width turb_t = 2 mm. In the second configuration, the considered turbulator was twisted (N_twist = 5, 10 and 15 twists). The turbulator was positioned at 0.6 m from the inlet of the tube and 1 m from the outlet of the collector. The studied performances included the heat transfer characteristics, pressure drop, friction factor, thermal efficiency, temperature and velocity distribution of the outlet field. The most significant contribution of this study is the proposal of the best parameters to increase the thermal and hydraulic efficiency of parabolic troughs by adding a new turbulator with the considered twists.
- parabolic trough solar collector,
- nanofluid,
- turbulator,
- turbulator twisted,
- hydrothermal characteristics
Citation: Omar Ouabouch, Imad Ait Laasri, Mounir Kriraa, Mohamed Lamsaadi. Investigation of novel turbulator with and without twisted configuration under turbulent forced convection of a CuO/water nanofluid flow inside a parabolic trough solar collector[J]. AIMS Materials Science, 2023, 10(1): 112-138. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2023007

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Abstract

In this study, we numerically investigated the hydrothermal performance of a parabolic trough solar collector system in which nanofluids are used to transfer thermal energy. The single-phase model has been used to evaluate the respective influences of the spherical shape of nanoparticles with a volume fraction of (φ = 3%), Reynolds number varying between 50,000 ≤ Re ≤ 250,000 and the insertion of a turbulator with and without a twisted configuration on the hydrothermal characteristics created by the turbulent forced convection of a CuO/water nanofluid. The shaped turbulator (+) inserted in the absorber tube had a length turb_L = 2.4 m, a height turb_H = 40 mm and a width turb_t = 2 mm. In the second configuration, the considered turbulator was twisted (N_twist = 5, 10 and 15 twists). The turbulator was positioned at 0.6 m from the inlet of the tube and 1 m from the outlet of the collector. The studied performances included the heat transfer characteristics, pressure drop, friction factor, thermal efficiency, temperature and velocity distribution of the outlet field. The most significant contribution of this study is the proposal of the best parameters to increase the thermal and hydraulic efficiency of parabolic troughs by adding a new turbulator with the considered twists.

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