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Heat Transfer Behavior of a PTC Receiver Tube Using Transversal Focal Inserts and CFD

Received: 5 October 2023    Accepted: 3 November 2023    Published: 17 November 2023
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Abstract

In this paper the thermohydraulic performance of an improved Parabolic Trough Collector tube is investigated. Since the absorber tube of the Parabolic Trough Collector is subjected to non-uniform heat flux, and the focal part of the absorber is subjected to a concentrated solar flux, a temperature gradient on the tube circumferential surface is produced. In order to enhance the heat transfer between the Heat Transfer Fluid and the inner surface of the absorber tube and decrease the temperature gradient of the tube’s outer surface and also the temperature of the Heat Transfer Fluid inside the absorber tube, transversal focal inserts are placed on the receiver tube's bottom part as a passive method to increase the mixing of the fluid and decrease the temperature gradient. The geometrical parameter of the inserts as the insert’s height is analyzed and investigated using Finite Volume Method coupling Monte Carlo Ray Tracing method for Reynolds number range from 2.36x104 to 11.83x104. The Therminol®VP1is used as Heat Transfer Fluid in this study. The numerical results show that the enhanced tube by using this kind of inserts increases the thermal performance of the Parabolic Trough Collector system, and also, introducing the inserts into the receiver tube reduces the heat loss to the ambient, decreases the temperature differential across the absorber tube's circumferential region, and increases the receiver's lifespan.

Published in American Journal of Physics and Applications (Volume 11, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajpa.20231104.12
Page(s) 89-98
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Parabolic Trough Solar Collector, Inserts, Thermal Performance, Computational Fluid Dynamic, Nonuniform Heat Flux

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Mohammed Reda, H., Abdelhadi, H., Abdelylah, B. (2023). Heat Transfer Behavior of a PTC Receiver Tube Using Transversal Focal Inserts and CFD. American Journal of Physics and Applications, 11(4), 89-98. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpa.20231104.12

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    ACS Style

    Mohammed Reda, H.; Abdelhadi, H.; Abdelylah, B. Heat Transfer Behavior of a PTC Receiver Tube Using Transversal Focal Inserts and CFD. Am. J. Phys. Appl. 2023, 11(4), 89-98. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpa.20231104.12

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    AMA Style

    Mohammed Reda H, Abdelhadi H, Abdelylah B. Heat Transfer Behavior of a PTC Receiver Tube Using Transversal Focal Inserts and CFD. Am J Phys Appl. 2023;11(4):89-98. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpa.20231104.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajpa.20231104.12,
      author = {Haddouche Mohammed Reda and Haddouche Abdelhadi and Benazza Abdelylah},
      title = {Heat Transfer Behavior of a PTC Receiver Tube Using Transversal Focal Inserts and CFD},
      journal = {American Journal of Physics and Applications},
      volume = {11},
      number = {4},
      pages = {89-98},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajpa.20231104.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpa.20231104.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpa.20231104.12},
      abstract = {In this paper the thermohydraulic performance of an improved Parabolic Trough Collector tube is investigated. Since the absorber tube of the Parabolic Trough Collector is subjected to non-uniform heat flux, and the focal part of the absorber is subjected to a concentrated solar flux, a temperature gradient on the tube circumferential surface is produced. In order to enhance the heat transfer between the Heat Transfer Fluid and the inner surface of the absorber tube and decrease the temperature gradient of the tube’s outer surface and also the temperature of the Heat Transfer Fluid inside the absorber tube, transversal focal inserts are placed on the receiver tube's bottom part as a passive method to increase the mixing of the fluid and decrease the temperature gradient. The geometrical parameter of the inserts as the insert’s height is analyzed and investigated using Finite Volume Method coupling Monte Carlo Ray Tracing method for Reynolds number range from 2.36x104 to 11.83x104. The Therminol®VP1is used as Heat Transfer Fluid in this study. The numerical results show that the enhanced tube by using this kind of inserts increases the thermal performance of the Parabolic Trough Collector system, and also, introducing the inserts into the receiver tube reduces the heat loss to the ambient, decreases the temperature differential across the absorber tube's circumferential region, and increases the receiver's lifespan.
    },
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Heat Transfer Behavior of a PTC Receiver Tube Using Transversal Focal Inserts and CFD
    AU  - Haddouche Mohammed Reda
    AU  - Haddouche Abdelhadi
    AU  - Benazza Abdelylah
    Y1  - 2023/11/17
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpa.20231104.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajpa.20231104.12
    T2  - American Journal of Physics and Applications
    JF  - American Journal of Physics and Applications
    JO  - American Journal of Physics and Applications
    SP  - 89
    EP  - 98
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-4308
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpa.20231104.12
    AB  - In this paper the thermohydraulic performance of an improved Parabolic Trough Collector tube is investigated. Since the absorber tube of the Parabolic Trough Collector is subjected to non-uniform heat flux, and the focal part of the absorber is subjected to a concentrated solar flux, a temperature gradient on the tube circumferential surface is produced. In order to enhance the heat transfer between the Heat Transfer Fluid and the inner surface of the absorber tube and decrease the temperature gradient of the tube’s outer surface and also the temperature of the Heat Transfer Fluid inside the absorber tube, transversal focal inserts are placed on the receiver tube's bottom part as a passive method to increase the mixing of the fluid and decrease the temperature gradient. The geometrical parameter of the inserts as the insert’s height is analyzed and investigated using Finite Volume Method coupling Monte Carlo Ray Tracing method for Reynolds number range from 2.36x104 to 11.83x104. The Therminol®VP1is used as Heat Transfer Fluid in this study. The numerical results show that the enhanced tube by using this kind of inserts increases the thermal performance of the Parabolic Trough Collector system, and also, introducing the inserts into the receiver tube reduces the heat loss to the ambient, decreases the temperature differential across the absorber tube's circumferential region, and increases the receiver's lifespan.
    
    VL  - 11
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Computer and Industrial Engineering, University of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain

  • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Abou Bekr-Belkaid, Tlemcen, Algeria

  • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Djillali Liabes, Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria

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