Heat transfer enhancement in parabolic trough receiver based on exergy destruction minimization

Haiwen Ma, Peng Liu, Lu Huang, Tingting Ren, Yanlin Ge and Lingen Chen

Energy, 2024, vol. 313, issue C

Abstract: Parabolic trough receiver is crucial in addressing the energy constraint. However, due to the high circumferential temperature gradient, there are frequently issues like local high temperature and life loss in operation. In order to solve those problems, based on the exergy destruction minimization principle, the fluid flow and heat transfer in the absorber tube are optimized. The optimal flow field structure is obtained, which is shown as two pairs of longitudinal vortices, with different scales that symmetrically distributed in the lower part of the absorber tube. Then, the inclined fins are used to realize the optimal flow field. The best tilt angle (α) is earned by comparing the performance of the fins with different α. Through the analyses of velocity distribution, turbulence intensity and temperature distribution, the mechanism behind the heat transfer enhancement is discussed. Finally, the optimized receiver's performance is assessed under various operating circumstances. In comparison to the conventional PTR, the Nusselt number is increased by 82.74 % when the inlet temperature is 500 K, which results in 37.1 % reduction in heat loss and 1.4 % improvement in heat collecting efficiency. This study can guide the design of receiver to be carried out efficiently and safely.

Keywords: Parabolic trough receiver; Longitudinal swirls flow; Heat loss; Performance analyses; Fin; Exergy destruction minimization principle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:313:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224038155

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.134037

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