ABSTRACT
This study was motivated by the need to enhance the performance of parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) used in various industrial applications. The investigation aimed to explore the potential of using synthetic aromatic fluids with hybrid nanoparticles to achieve improved thermal efficiency and heat transfer in PTC systems. The combination of four industrial synthetic aromatic fluids, namely Syltherm 800, Therminol VP1, Therminol 66, and Dowtherm A, with hybrid nanoparticles consisting of Al2O3 and TiO2 with a combined volume concentration of 3% (50:50 ratio), was studied due to their widespread industrial application and potential for performance enhancement. The mathematical model is developed using Engineering Equation Solver (EES) and validated against results from Sandia National Laboratory (SNL), showing an average uncertainty of 0.1% for outlet temperature and 1.33% for thermal efficiency. The findings indicate that the hybrid nanofluid exhibits substantial enhancements in thermal efficiency compared to the base fluids. The enhancements are observed for Syltherm 800 (1.1%), Therminol VP1 (1.243%), Therminol 66 (1.04%), and Dowtherm A (0.2%). The heat transfer coefficient (HTC) increases by 206.35%, 156.63%, 220%, and 250% for Syltherm 800, Therminol VP1, Therminol 66, and Dowtherm A, respectively. In addition, enviroeconomic analysis and exergoenviroeconomic analysis are performed, revealing that the Therminol VP1-based nanofluid exhibits the lowest daily cost among the investigated fluids. The study’s findings highlight the potential of using synthetic aromatic fluids with hybrid nanoparticles to improve the performance of parabolic trough collectors.
Nomenclature
Abbreviation: | = |
|
DAPTSC: | = | Direct Absorption Parabolic Trough Solar Collector |
DNI: | = | Direct Normal Irradiance |
HTC: | = | Heat transfer coefficient |
HTF: | = | Heat Transfer Fluid |
Lpm: | = | Liter per minute |
PTC: | = | Parabolic Trough Collector |
Symbols: | = |
|
= | Aperture Area of solar collector [m2] | |
= | Collector area | |
= | Heat Removal Factor | |
= | Useful heat gain from the collector [W] | |
= | Radiative Heat Transfer Coefficient in air | |
⋴ | = | Emissivity of the absorber tube |
µ | = | Dynamic Viscosity [Pa-s] |
A | = | Area [m2] |
C | = | Cost [$] |
cp | = | Specific heat capacity [J/kgoC] |
Gb | = | Direct normal irradiance |
h | = | Convective Heat Transfer Coefficient [W/m2oC] |
Nu | = | Nusselt Number |
Ql | = | Heat loss [W] |
Qs | = | Solar absorbed heat [W] |
T | = | Temperature [oC] |
η | = | Efficiency |
φ: | = | Volume Concentration |
= | Reynolds Number | |
= | Thermal Conductivity [W/moC] | |
= | Density [kg/m3] | |
Subscript | = |
|
a | = | Ambient |
bf | = | Base fluid |
ex | = | Exergetic |
hnf | = | Hybrid nanofluid |
i | = | Inlet |
o | = | Outlet |
r | = | Receiver |
therm | = | Thermal |
w | = | Wind |
Disclosure statement
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Santosh Kumar Singh
Santosh Kumar Singh is an Research Scholar in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Engineering & Technology, Lucknow. His area of research is solar thermal energy and nanofluidics.
Arun Kumar Tiwari
Dr. Arun Kumar Tiwari is an Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Engineering & Technology, Lucknow. He has published more than 107 SCI/Scopus indexed papers in the field of solar thermal energy and nanofluidics, he has been recognized in Top 2% World Scientists, 2022 (Published by: Elsevier/Stanford University).
H. K. Paliwal
Dr. H. K. Paliwal is an Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Engineering & Technology, Lucknow. He has served as the Director in Institute of Engineering & Technology, Lucknow.