Nanofluid performance in a solar LFR system involving turbulator applying numerical simulation

With involving innovative swirl flow tapes through the absorber tube in LFR system, the productivity of unit was improved in present study. To grow the thermal feature of water, hybrid nanoparticles (Al2O3 + CuO) were dispersed. For designing current solar unit, 12 mirrors, one absorber tube and secondary reflector have been used. To calculate the heat source in solid zone of tube, SolTrace has been applied. Because of low fraction of each type of nano-sized material, single phase formulation were utilized. For analyzing the 3D turbulent flow of hybrid nanomaterial within the tube, FVM was chosen with incorporating K-e formulations. Effects of inlet flow rate (Q) and its temperature (Tin), pitch ratio (PR = 0.147059 to 0.5) and height ratio (BR = 0.16 to 0.24), have been examined in outputs. Three important functions which were calculated for all cases were: Nusselt number (Nu), thermal productivity (tit) and Darcy factor (f). Inclusion of hybrid nanomaterial causes Nu, f and tit to intensify around 5.26%, 4.67% and 0.316% when Q = 15, PR = 0.5, BR = 0.24. As greater value of PR has been chosen, Nu, f and tit enhance around 22.27%, 112.45% and 0.514% when Q = 15, BR = 0.16. Intensify of BR creates more secondary flow and Nu, f and tit augments about 6.36%, 48.7% and 0.06%, when Q = 15, PR = 0.5. With augment of Q and Tin, tit declines around 15.35% and 0.304%. As Q increases, Nu intensifies about 60.21% but f declines about 11.1% when PR = 0.5, BR = 0.24.CO 2022 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier BV and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study aimed to improve the productivity of a unit in an LFR system by using innovative swirl flow tapes and hybrid nanoparticles. The thermal feature of water was enhanced by dispersing Al2O3 + CuO nanoparticles. A solar unit was designed with 12 mirrors, one absorber tube, and a secondary reflector. SolTrace was used to calculate the heat source in the solid zone of the tube. The effects of inlet flow rate, temperature, pitch ratio, and height ratio were examined, and the inclusion of hybrid nanomaterial was found to enhance the Nusselt number, thermal productivity, and Darcy factor.