Abstract:

In this study, the effects of adding a rectangular spiral fin inside a collector pipe used in a parabolic solar collector and the use of nanofluids on thermal performance were numerically investigated. Four model geometries were created by changing the number of spiral turns along the tube length of the fin. It is assumed that Hexagonal Boron Nitride-Water (hBN-water) nanofluid passes through the collector pipe. The volumetric mixing ratios of the nanofluid were changed between 0% and 4%. The flow is laminar and the Reynolds number is taken at a constant 1500. Analyzes were made with the help of Computational Fluid Dynamics for different parameters. As a result of the study, it was observed that the heat transfer increased as the volumetric mixing ratio of the hBN particle in the nanofluid was increased. In addition, increasing the number of turns of the fin added in the collector pipe also increased the heat transfer. With the addition of fins to the collector tube and the use of hBN nanofluid, the value of the heat transfer coefficient increased by approximately 284% and the value of the Nusselt number increased by approximately 256% compared to a collector tube without fins and only water flowing through it.

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