Nanoparticles transportation with turbulent regime through a solar collector with helical tapes

Utilizing hybrid nanomaterial, fin and helical turbulator were suggested in present investigation to intensify the efficiency of absorber unit. Mixture of water with Al2O3 and CuO creates the working fluid and due to low fraction of nano-powders, formulations were incorporated according to homogeneous modeling approach. Longitudinal plate with circular gaps was considered as fin and helical tape was utilized as turbulator. Verification based on experimental previous work reveals nice concordance. Fraction of hybrid nano-powders, Re and two geometrical factors (pitch factor (P-i) and diameter of circular gaps (D-1)) have been reported in outputs. It should be mentioned that number of circular gaps is depend on P-i. Finite volume approach was selected with involve of k-epsilon RNG technique for simulating turbulent forced convection. As diameter of gap augments, fluid movement becomes easier and pressure loss decreases while better mixing of upper hot fluid and cold one can be reached. As pitch factor declines, the revolution of tapes augments and number of circular gaps increases, too. Although, increase of rotational velocity makes the stronger interaction with wall, the pressure drop can be reduced because of positive effect of higher number of gaps when the diameter of gaps has maximum value. Temperature of absorber plate reduces 0.15% with intensify of Re while it grows about 0.007% and 0.012% with augment of D-1 and P-i Nu augments about 73.59% with augment of pumping power while friction factor declines about 18.32%. In greatest level of Re, rise of D-1 and P-i leads to augment of Nu about 6.47% and 6.43%. Also, friction factor reduce about 11.22% and 17.47% with growth of D-1 and P-i Adding hybrid nanomaterial makes Nu and f to rise about 5.26% and 1.52%. (C) 2022 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study proposes the use of hybrid nanomaterials, including fin and helical turbulator, to enhance the efficiency of the absorber unit. The results of numerical simulations show that increasing the diameter of circular gaps facilitates fluid movement, reduces pressure loss, and improves the mixing of hot and cold fluids. As the pitch factor decreases, the rotation of helical tapes increases, leading to an increase in the number of circular gaps. The temperature of the absorber plate decreases with increasing Reynolds number, while it increases with the augmentation of the diameter of circular gaps and the pitch factor.