Numerical analysis of solar energy storage within a double pipe utilizing nanoparticles for expedition of melting

The current work proposes the combination of thermal storage and solar concentrating systems. To improve the low conduction mode of pure paraffin, not only the new style of fins but also dispersing ZnO nano-powders were suggested. The numerical procedure has been verified with the reported outputs in previous literature and good accommodation has been demonstrated. The utilized technique for modeling transient charging phenomena is enthalpy-porosity in which homogeneous model for prediction of paraffin properties were proposed. To deter-mine the efficacy of angle of star-spline fins, simulations for all three proposed configurations have been done and outputs have been summarized in contours and plots. In existence of sunlight, the reflector makes the sun rays to concentrate along absorber tube and temperature of testing fluid augments. Such hot fluid flows within the inner pipe of double pipe system which contains paraffin in annulus region. With change of theta from 30 degrees to 45 degrees and 60 degrees, the melting period saved to 13.14% and 18.61%, respectively. Adding ZnO nanoparticles help to augment the conduction mode and melting period declines around 4.79%. The lowest needed time for melting is about 4.88 h which is associated to case with phi = 0.035 and theta = 60 degrees.

Automated summary

This study proposes the combination of thermal storage and solar concentrating systems, and suggests the use of new fins and dispersed ZnO nano-powders to improve the low conduction mode of pure paraffin. The numerical procedure has been verified and the simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed configurations.