A.S. Goldanlou

and 2 more

Current study investigates thermal-hydraulic performances of turbulent forced hybrid nanofluid flow and heat transfer inside a parabolic through solar collector equipped with turbulators. The main aim of present work is to simulate and investigate the effects of different Reynolds numbers and geometrical parameters on thermal and hydraulic characteristics of the system to achieve the maximum PEC value. The heat transfer fluid is water-based MWCNT-Al2O3 (80%:20%) hybrid nanofluid which makes a Newtonian nanofluid. The RANS equations with the shear-stress (SST) k–ω turbulence model have been employed for modeling the turbulence regime. Based on obtained results, usage of turbulators leads to higher thermal diffusion because of destroying the laminar sub layer, increasing heat transfer surface and convection heat transfer. For θ=180°, the maximum values of average Nusselt number (Nuave) are achieved during all studied range of Reynolds numbers followed by θ=90° and θ=0°, respectively. For HO=15mm, the maximum values of Nuave are achieved followed by HO=10mm and HO=5mm, respectively. The model with HO=5mm has not the maximum Nuave; but, it has lower pressure drop than HO=15mm. For BO=1000mm, the maximum values of Nuave are achieved followed by BO=800mm and smooth channel, respectively. Furthermore, for δ=60°, the maximum Nuave are achieved followed by δ=40° and δ=20°, respectively. For model δ=40° the maximum values of PEC are achieved followed by smooth channel, δ=20° and δ=60°, respectively. The parabolic through solar collector model with θ=180°, HO=15, BO=1000mm, δ=40° and bO=20mm filled with hybrid nanofluid suggested as the optimum model in the present investigation.