Thermal Characterization of Coolant Maxwell Type Nanofluid Flowing in Parabolic Trough Solar Collector (PTSC) Used Inside Solar Powered Ship Application

Parabolic trough solar collectors (PTSCs) are generally utilized to reach high temperatures in solar-thermal applications. The current work investigates entropy production analysis and the influence of nano solid particles on a parabolic trough surface collector (PTSC) installed within a solar powered ship (SPS). For the current investigation, the non-Newtonian Maxwell type, as well as a porous medium and Darcy-Forchheimer effects, were used. The flow in PTSC was produced by a nonlinear stretching surface, and the Cattaneo-Christov approach was used to assess the thermal boundary layer's heat flux. Similarity transformation approach has been employed to convert partial differential equations into solvable ordinary differential equations allied to boundary conditions. Partial differential and the boundary conditions have been reduced into a group of non-linear ordinary differential equations. A Keller-box scheme applied to solve approximate solutions of the ordinary differential equations. Single-walled carbon nanotubes -engine oil (SWCNT-EO) and Multiwalled carbon nanotubes/engine oil (MWCNT-EO) nanofluids have been utilized as working fluid. According to the findings, the magnetic parameter led to a reduction in the Nusselt number, as well as an increment in skin friction coefficient. Moreover, total entropy variance over the domain enhanced for flow rates through Reynolds number and viscosity fluctuations were monitored by using Brinkman number. Utilizing SWCNT-EO nanofluid increased the thermal efficiency between 1.6-14.9% in comparison to MWCNT-EO.

Automated summary

This study investigates the entropy production analysis and the impact of nano solid particles on a parabolic trough surface collector within a solar powered ship, using complex fluid dynamics models and nanofluids as working fluid. The findings suggest that the use of nanofluids can significantly increase the thermal efficiency of the collector.