3D thermal-hydraulic analysis of a symmetric wavy parabolic trough absorber pipe

S. Yang and J.C. Ordonez

Energy, 2019, vol. 189, issue C

Abstract: We analyzed a symmetric wavy parabolic trough absorber pipe using an experimentally validated 3D FEM coupled to a semi-analytical optical model. The proposed absorber design was assessed based on the first and second law efficiency as well as the performance evaluation criteria (PEC), which accounted for both heat transfer enhancement and pressure drop relative to a conventional design, as we varied the wave amplitude, periodicity length, and fluid mass flow rate. Significant improvement in the first law efficiency was observed with the proposed design, especially at high mass flow rates due to the accelerated flow across the pipe throat which in turn enhanced the mixing. The second law efficiency variation shifted from an increasing to a decreasing trend with respect to the wave amplitude as the mass flow rate increased, and the exergy destruction due to pressure drop became evident accordingly. The PEC verified the superior performance of the proposed absorber design over the traditional straight pipe as its peak value was approximately 1.25. We also determined critical wave amplitude, periodicity length, and mass flow rate below which the PEC was less than unity due to an escalated pressure drop that offset the heat transfer enhancement.

Keywords: absorber pipe; finite element model; parabolic trough collector; thermal analysis; symmetric wavy channel (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:189:y:2019:i:c:s0360544219320158

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2019.116320

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