ABSTRACT

Parabolic trough collector is the most mature technology for utilizing the solar energy
in high temperature applications. The PTC system is used for unique fields such as
steam and hot water generation and power generation using sterling cycle and water
as a heat transfer fluid.

The objective work of this work is to give a complete literature review of the existing
studies on this domain and CFD analysis of a PTC using nano fluids and ANSYS.

Nanofluids are used as working fluid in parabolic trough collectors (PTCs). The influence of
many factors such as nanoparticles and base fluid type as well as volume fraction and size of
nanoparticles on the performance of PTCs has been investigated. The reviewed studies
consists of performing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation on parabolic trough
collector using ANSYS Fluent software. The main focus was to evaluate the effect of
nanofluids on thermal performance of the process and study the temperature changes with
the usage of different concentrations of water based Al2O3and water based CUO
nanofluids. It was revealed that nanofluids enhance (in most of the cases) the thermal
efficiency, convection heat transfer coefficient, and energy efficiency of the system.

1
INTRODUCTION
In today’s world the fastest growing thing is the energy requirement by world,
with the reduction in the conventional resource. The most challenging thingin
front of the world ishow the to fulfill the requirement of energy. Increasing in
fuel prices and carbon emissions from the conventional energy resources like
thermal energy and fossil fuels usage leads to global warming and air pollution.
Due to over use and depletion of conventional energy resources, the world has
to think about the alternative sources of energy.
Nowadays, renewable power generation or hybrid renewable power generation
systems are attracting the interest of the whole world due to advanced
technologies capable of efficient use of renewable resources including
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (Pepermans, 2005; Xi, 2012).
Renewable energy resources are used generally for three main purposes:
electricity generation, bio products and heating/cooling systems. Concentrating
solar power generation system, geothermal power generation and hydropower
generation systems are well-disposed technologies, while solar thermalheating,
geothermal district heating and pellet-based heating can provide significant
benefits in case of heat supply (Dombi, 2014). In many countries, various
schemes like development of technologies, increased economies of scale, and
strong policy support have contributed.
However, out of the renewable energy resources, the most ample resource is
solar which has immense potentiality (Şen, 2004). Technologies are available
to harness solar energy to a useful state. Solar has the potency to meet all
residential and industrial energy needs. Already the world is moving toward
sustainable technologies especially solar energy technologies. Solar PV system
is growing so fast of all renewable technologies with an impressive rate
(Hosenuzzaman et al., 2015). Recently solar concentrating system attracts the
attention of many countries. Some countries have established such type of
system, and in some region of the world, this system is under development.
Today the world stands at an exciting transition moment when renewable
energy is competing head to head with fossil fuel and nuclear energy. Due to
increased energy consumption, dependence on fossil fuels, solar power
generation can be the main and important factor for the world now.

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1.2 RENEWABLE ENERGY RRESOURCES:
Since the last 200 years energy demand is fulfilled from non-replenishable
sources, viz., oil, natural gas and coal. Recently energy demand is rising, but
these resources are continuously depleting. These resources are also
responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. A table regarding the sustained life
of fossil fuels is given here
Researchers are exploring the potential of renewable sources for the future.
This planet has continually replenished some resources such as sunlight, wind,
tides and waves, rain, and warmth of earth. The energy is derived from these
sources in a sustainable manner. Matured and upgrade technologies are
available for exploiting resources. Renewable resources, far cleaner than fossil
fuels emits minute level of carbon and help to battle global warming caused by
fossil fuels.
Renewable energy resources are shown in TABLE 1.1
Energy sources Energy conversion and usage options
Hydro power Power generation
Bio mass Heat and power generation, pyrolysis, gasification
Geo thermal Urban heating, power generation, hydrothermal
Solar Solar dryers, solar cookers, solar collectors, photo
voltaic cells
Wind Power generation, wind mills, water pump
Wave and tide Numerous design, barriage, tidal stream
Table 1.1 : Renewable energy sources and their uses (Panwar et.al 2011)
SOLAR ENERGY:
Solar energy is harnessed by converting solar energy directly into electrical
energy in solar plants. Photosynthesis process carries out this process of
conversion of solar energy. In photosynthesis, green plants absorb solar energy
and convert it into chemical energy. Solar energy is an essential energy of all
non-conventional sources but its usage amount is very less. It is the most
important non-conventional source of energy and it gives non-polluting
environment-friendly output and is available in abundant.

3
 Figure 1.1: Map showing Direct normal irradiation of different
countries
WIND ENERGY:
Wind energy describes the process by which wind is used to
generate electricity. As the wind increases, power output increases up to the
maximum output of the particular turbine. Wind farms prefer areas, where
winds are stronger and constant. These are generally located at high altitudes.
Wind turbines use wind to make electricity. There is no pollution because no
fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity. One of India’s largest windmill
farm is in Kanyakumari which generates 380mW of electricity.
Wind power is an intermittent energy source, which cannot be dispatched on
demand. Locally, it gives variable power, which is consistent from year to year
but varies greatly over shorter time scales. Therefore, it must be used with
other power sources to give a reliable supply. Power-management techniques
such as having dispatchable power sources (often gas-fired power
plant or hydroelectric power), excess capacity, geographically distributed
turbines, exporting and importing power to neighboring areas, grid storage,
reducing demand when wind production is low, and curtailing occasional
excess wind power, are used to overcome these problems. As the proportion of

4
wind power in a region increases, more conventional power sources are needed
to back it up, and the grid may need to be upgraded. Weather
forecasting permits the electric-power network to be readied for the predictable
variations in production that occur.

BIOMASS ENERGY:
Biomass is the organic matter that originates from plants, animals, wood,
sewage. These substances burn to produce heat energy which then generates
electricity. The chemical composition of biomass varies in different species but
generally, biomass consists of 25% of lignin, 75% of carbohydrates or sugar.
Biomass energy is also applicable for cooking, lighting, and generation of
electricity. The residue left after the removal of biogas is a good source of
manure. Biomass is an important energy source contributing to more than 14%
of the global energy supply.
Biomass, any organic matter—plant materials and animal wastes—is probably
the oldest source of renewable energy after the sun. Various types of processes
including thermal, biological, mechanical or physical processes are available to
efficiently harness biomass and convert it into more valuable energy forms for
cooling, heating purposes or for producing electricity (Bridgwater, 2012).
Biomass is a sustainable source of energy that diminishes carbon emissions, a
prime contributor to climate change. Though biomass after burning emits
carbon dioxide gas, it does not emit new carbon into ambiance as the fossil fuel
burning does.
HYDRO POWER ENERGY:
Water, the fuel for hydropower is moving in various states on earth, which are
termed as hydrological cycle. Water evaporating from rivers and oceans,
convert to clouds, resulting rain and snowfall, and assembling in rivers again
and return back to the ocean - all these movements offer a great chance to
exploit useful energy.
Hydropower, gained by exploiting movements of water using diversion
infrastructure or dams is the sustainable and non-polluting power which can
reduce fossil fuels dependency and threat of global warming (Frey &Linke,
2002). The powerful movement of waves in the sea or river’s current rushing

5
are natural forces. The might of moving water can be harnessed to produce
clean electricity. There are some options or resources to get hydrokinetic
energy such as ocean wave energy resources, tidal energy resources,
hydrokinetic energy in streams and rivers, and ocean current energy.
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY:
Geothermal energy is the heat energy that we get from hot rocks present in the
earth’s crust. So Geothermal wells release greenhousegases trapped within the
earth and but these emissions are much lower per energy unit than the fossil
fuels. This energy generally involves low running costs since it saves 80% on
fossil fuels. Due to this, there is an increase in the use of geothermal energy. It
helps in reducing global warming and does not create pollution.
Earth's internal heat is thermal energy generated from radioactive decay and
continual heat loss from Earth's formation. Temperatures at the core–mantle
boundary may reach over 4000 °C (7200 °F). The high temperature and
pressure in Earth's interior cause some rock to melt and solid mantle to behave
plastically, resulting in parts of the mantle convecting upward since it is lighter
than the surrounding rock. Rock and water is heated in the crust, sometimes up
to 370 °C (700 °F).
Geothermal power is cost-effective, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally
friendly,[8] but has historically been limited to areas near tectonic plate
boundaries. Recent technological advances have dramatically expanded the
range and size of viable resources, especially for applications such as home

heating, opening a potential for widespread exploitation.

1.3 ROLE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY:

Renewable energy (RE) utilisation is not new. A little more than 150 years ago,
people were capable to create technology to extract energy from biomass. As
the use of coal, petroleum and natural gas expanded, people became less reliant
on bioenergy. Today, the world again are looking at renewable energy
resources to meet growing energy demand. Global energy consumption by
fuels over the last 48 years (1965 to 2013) is shown in Figure 1.2 (EC, 2014).

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 1.2: Global energy consumption by fuels (EC, 2014).

However according to Figure 1.3 (REGS, 2014), in 2012 RE shared 19% of

global energy consumption and sustained to grow significantly in 2013. About
9% RE share (traditional or solid biomass) in 2012 was used for household
primary energy consumption. The rest 10% of RE (modern renewables: solar/
geothermal/ wind/ hydro/ biomass /biofuels) share was used in four distinct
sectors: electricity generation, cooling and heating, fuel transportation and rural
off-grid services. Modern renewables’ uses increase dramatically due to slow

migration away from traditional biomass and increased energy demand.

Figure 1.3: Estimated global final renewables share of energy

consumption, 2012 (REGS, 2014).
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Figure 1.4: Annual Renewable Energy Capacity Growth Rates, End
2008–2013 and in 2013 (REGS, 2014)

Since 2009 through 2013, development of RE technologies grew rapidly,

especially in power sector as per Figure 1.4 (REGS, 2014). Although solar PV
capacity grew at the fastest rate compared to any energy technology over this
period, wind energy provided the major share of the power added to grid.
Application of RE in heating and cooling purposes grew gradually. Biofuel
production for transport sector slowed down from 2010 to 2012, but picked up
again in 2013. Overall, power sector experienced most significant growth with
the global capacity of 1560 GW in 2013, an increase of 8.0% over 2012.
Hydropower arose by 4.0% to around 1000 GW, whereas other RE increment
was around 17.0% to 560 GW. Globally solar PV and hydropower each
contributed for around one-third of renewable electrical capacity added in
2013, tracing close by wind energy (29%) (REGS, 2014).

1.4 SOLAR ENERGY POTENTIAL IN INDIA:

Now a day’s most of the countries are emphasizing on the development of

8
renewable energy resources. In the renewable energy resouces , solar energy
plays important role and it is a tremendous sources of energy. The sun is the
planet’s most powerful source of energy and also the most unused source of
energy by humans. The rate of energy received by the earth from solar energy
is approximately 1,20,000 TW.
Power sector is one of the key sectors contributing significantly to the growth
of country’s economy. Power sector needs a more useful role to be played in
defining, formulatingand implementing the research projects with close
involvement of all utilities such that the benefit reaches the ultimate consumer.
In India there is a huge gap between the energy generation and energy
consumption.
India has a great potential for solar power and it is estimated so many times of
the energy requirement which is about 5000 trillian kWh per year. The solar
radiation incident over India is equal to 4-7 kWh per square meter per day with
an annual radiation ranging from 1200-2300 kWh per square meter. It has an
average of 250-300 clear sunny days and 2300-3200 hours of sun shine per
year. India’s electricity needs can be met on a total land area of 3000 km2
which is equal to 0.1% of total land in the country.
Government of India is trying to improve the share of energy generation from
the solar energy and launched Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission. During first
year of first phase(2010-11) a target of 32 MW solar PV off grid systems and 5
lakh square meter solat thermal collector area was set. The targets are to be

achieved through various channel partners mentioned in the scheme.

. The country's solar installed capacity was 36.9 GW as of 30 November 2020.

Rooftop solar power accounts for 2.1 GW, of which 70% is industrial or
commercial. In addition to its large-scale grid-connected solar photovoltaic
(PV) initiative, India is developing off-grid solar power for local energy needs.
[8] Solar products have increasingly helped to meet rural needs; by the end of
2015 just under one million solar lanterns were sold in the country, reducing
the need for kerosene. That year, 118,700 solar home lighting systems were
installed and 46,655 solar street lighting installations were provided under a
national program just over 1.4 million solar cookers were distributed in India.

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 Figure 1.5: Global horizontal irradiance of India map

Figure 1.6: solar irradiation values of Indian geographical area

1.5 ADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ENERGY:

There are plenty of excellent reasons that equate to advantages in using solar
energy. Here are some advantages in using solar energy.
(i)Solar energy is non-polluting
Solar energy is excellent alternative for fossil fuels like coal an petroleum
because solar energy is practically emission free while generating electricity.

10
With solar energy the danger of further damage to the environment is
minimized. The generation of electricity through solar power produces no
noise. So noise pollution is also reduced.
(ii) Accessibility of solar power in remote locations.
Solar power can be generated electricity of matter how remote the area as long
as the shines there. Even in areas that are inaccessible to power cables, solar
power can produce electricity.
(iii) Available Free of Cost.
Sunlight is totally free. There is of course the initial investment for the
equipment. After the initial capital outlay you won't be receiving a bill every
month for the rest of your life from the electrical utility.
(iv) Solar energy is getting more cost effective.
The technology for solar energy is evolving at an increasing rate. At present
photovoltaic technology is still relatively expensive but the technology is
present photovoltaic technology is improving and production is increasing. The
result of this is to drive costs down. Payback times for the equipments are
getting short as five years.
(v) The abundance of solar energy.
Even in the middle winter each square mater of land still receives a fair amount
of solar radiation. Sunlight is everywhere and the resource is practically
inexhaustible. Even during cloudy days we still receive some sunlight and it is
this than can be used as a renewable resource.
(vi) Solar energy system is virtually maintenance free.
Once a photovoltaic array is setup it can last for decades. Once they are
installed and setup there are practically zero recurring costs. If needs increase
solar panels can be added with ease and with no major revamp.

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1.6 DISADVANTGES OF SOLAR ENERGY:
(i)High initial capital investment.
The initial cost of installing a solar energy system can be prohibitively high for
some budgets. The cost of buying and installing solar panel arrays is a bit
steep. Payback times may reach from ten o fifteen years before you can even
break even with your initial investment.
(ii) Doubtful reliability.
It is obviously to power your home with a solar array at night if you don't have
a system in which to store power. This means batteries at our present level of
technology. So one probably need to draw electricity from the local utility grid.
(iii) Position of the surface on which sunlight falls.
The position of your solar array is obviously of major importance in the
generation of electricity. This means that some houses will not be ideally suited
for conversion or for installing a solar energy system.
(iv) Polluting materials used in solar panels.
The majority of photovoltaic panels are made from silicon and other metals
that are potentially toxic like mercury, lead and cadmium. This is the dirty
secret of this “clean” technology.
(v) The efficiency question.
The current efficiency rate of most solar panels is just 40%. This means that
60% of the sun's energy is wasted. The solar panels that can reach a maximum
efficiency of 80%.
1.7 CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER:
Concentrated solar power (CSP, also known as concentrating solar
power, concentrated solar thermal) systems generate solar power by using
mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight onto a
receiver. Electricity is generated when the concentrated light is converted to
heat (solar thermal energy), which drives a heat engine (usually a steam
turbine) connected to an electric power generator of powers a thermo chemical
reaction.

12
CSP is used to produce electricity (sometimes called solar thermoelectricity,
usually generated through steam). Concentrated-solar technology systems use
mirrors or lenses with tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight onto a
small area. The concentrated light is then used as heat or as a heat source for a
conventional power plant (solar thermoelectricity). The solar concentrators
used in CSP systems can often also be used to provide industrial process
heating or cooling, such as in solar air conditioning.
Concentrating technologies exist in four optical types,
namely parabolictrough, dish, concentrating linear Fresnel reflector, and solar
power tower. Parabolic trough and concentrating linear Fresnel reflectors are
classified as linear focus collector types, while dish and solar tower are point
focus types. Linear focus collectors achieve medium concentration factors (50
suns and over), and point focus collectors achieve high concentration factors
(over 500 suns). Although simple, these solar concentrators are quite far from
the theoretical maximum concentration.
Different types of concentrators produce different peak temperatures and
correspondingly varying thermodynamic efficiencies, due to differences in the
way that they track the sun and focus light. New innovations in CSP
technology are leading systems to become more and more cost-effective.
National concentrated solar power capacities as of 2018:

Country Total (MW)

Spain 2300
United states 1738
India 225
South Africa 200
Morocco 180
United Arab Emirates 100
Algeria 25
Egypt 20
Australia 12
China 10
Thailand 5

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PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTOR:
This is the most mature CST technology, accounting for more than 90% of the
currently installed STE capacity worldwide. As illustrated in Figure solar fields
using trough systems capture the solar radiation using large mirrors shaped like
a parabola. They are connected together in long lines of up to 300 metres and
track the sun path throughout the day along a single axis (usually East to West)
[2, 3].
The parabolic mirrors send the solar beam onto a receiver pipe which is
located at the focal line of the parabola and filled with a specialised heat
transfer fluid. These receivers have a special coating to maximise energy
absorption and minimise infrared re-irradiation. In order to avoid convection
heat losses, the pipes work in an evacuated glass envelope.
The thermal energy is removed by the heat transfer fluid (e.g. synthetic
oil, molten salt) flowing in the heat-absorbing pipe and transferred to a steam
generator to produce the super-heated steam that drives the turbine [3]. Once
the fluid transfers its heat, it is recirculated into the system for reuse. The steam
is also cooled, condensed and reused.
Furthermore, the heated fluid in Parabolic trough technology can also provide
heat to thermal storage systems, which can be used to generate electricity at
times when the sun is not shining. Most PT plants currently in operation have
capacities between 30-100 MW, efficiencies of around 14-16% (i.e. the ratio of
solar irradiance power to net electric output) and maximum operating
temperatures of 390°C, which is limited by the degradation of synthetic oil
used for heat transfer. The use of molten salt at 550°C and water-steam at
500°C for heat transfer purposes in PT plants is under investigation. High
temperature molten salt may increase both plant efficiency (e.g. 15%-17%) and

thermal storage capacity.

14
 Figure 1.7. Parabolic-trough collector
1.8 NANO FLUID:
A nanofluid is a fluid containing nanometer-sized particles, called
nanoparticles. These fluids are engineered colloidal suspensions of
nanoparticles in a base fluid. The nanoparticles used in nanofluid are typically
made of metals, oxides, carbides, or carbon nanotubes. Common base fluids
include water, ethylene glycol and oil. Due to its novel properties nanofluid
find their applications in many fields of heat transfer, including
microelectronics, fuel cells, pharmaceutical, processes, and hybrid-powered
engines, in grinding, machining, enginecooling/ vehicle thermal management,
domestic refrigerator, chiller, heat exchanger and in boiler flu gas temperature
reduction.
They have better thermal conductivity and the convective heat transfer
coefficient as that of the fluid in which it is made of. Knowledge of the
rheological behaviour of nanofluids is found to be very critical in deciding their
suitability for convective heat transfer applications.
1.9 HEAT TRANSFER IN NANOFLUIDS :
Suspended nanoparticles in conventional fluids, called nanofluids, have been
the subject of intensive study worldwide since pioneering researchers recently
discovered the anomalous thermal behaviour of these fluids. Existing theories
could not explain the enhanced thermal conductivity of these fluids with small-
particleconcentration. Micrometre-sized particle-fluid suspensions exhibit no
such dramatic enhancement. This difference has led to studies of other modes
of heat transfer and efforts to develop a comprehensive theory.

15
SYNTHESIS:
Nanofluids are produced by several techniques they are,
Direct Evaporation (1 step)
Gas condensation/dispersion (2 steps)
Chemical vapour condensation (1 step)
Chemical precipitation (1 step)
Although stabilization can be a challenge, on-going research indicates that it is
possible. Nano-materials used so far in nanofluid synthesis include metallic
particles, oxide particles, carbon nanotubes, 16raphemenano-flakes and
ceramic particles.

1.10 PRODUCTION OF NANO FLUIDS:

Production of nanoparticles can be divided into two main categories, namely,
physical synthesis and chemical synthesis. The common production techniques
of nanofluids as follows.
Physical Synthesis: Mechanical grinding, inert-gas-condensation technique.
Chemical Synthesis: Chemical precipitation, chemical vapour deposition,
micro-emulsions, spray pyrolysis, thermal spraying.
Production of Nanofluids-
There is mainly two methods of production, namely, two-step technique and
one-step technique.
In one-step technique, combines the production of nanoparticles and dispersion
of nanoparticles in the base fluid into a single step. There are some variations
of this technique. In one of the common methods, named direct evaporation
one-step method, the Nano-fluid is produced by the solidification of the
nanoparticles, which are initially gas phase, inside the base fluid. The
dispersion characteristics of Nano-fluids produced with one step techniques are
better than those produced with two-step technique. The main drawback of
one-steptechniques is that they are not proper for mass production, which limits
their commercialization.
In the two-step technique, the first step is the production of nanoparticles and
the second step is the dispersion of the nanoparticles in a base fluid. Two-step
technique is advantageous when mass 4 production of Nano-fluids is
considered, because at present, nanoparticles can be produced in large
16
quantities by utilizing the technique of inert gas condensation. The main
disadvantage of the two-step technique is that the nanoparticles form clusters
during the preparation of the Nano-fluid which prevents the proper dispersion
of nanoparticles inside the base fluid.
APPLICATIONS:
Nanofluids are primarily used for their enhanced thermal properties as coolants
in heat transfer equipment such as heat exchangers, electronic cooling system
(such as flat plate) and radiators. Heat transfer over flat plate has been analysed
by many researchers.
However, they are also useful for their controlled optical properties. Graphene
basednanofluid has been found to enhance polymerase chain reaction
efficiency. Nanofluids in solar collectors is another application where
Nanofluids are employed for their tuneable optical properties.

1.11 INTRODUCTION TO FINITE VOLUME METHOD:

The finite volume method (FVM) is a method for representing and
evaluating partial differential equations in the form of algebraic equations.
[1] In the finite volume method, volume integrals in a partial differential
equation that contain a divergence term are converted to surface integrals using
divergence theorem. These terms are then evaluated as fluxes at the surfaces of
each finite volume. Because the flux entering a given volume is identical to
that leaving the adjacent volume, these methods are conservative. Another
advantage of the finite volume method is that it is easily formulated to allow
for unstructured meshes. The method is used in many computational fluid
dynamics packages. “Finite volume” refers to the small volume surrounding
each node point on a mesh. Finite volume method evaluates exact expressions
for the average value of the solution over some volume, and uses this data to
construct approximations of the solution with in cells.
1.12 INTRODUCTION TO CFD:
Computational fluid dynamics(CFD) is a branch of fluid mechanics that uses
numerical analysis and data structures to analyse and solve problems that
involve fluid flows. Computer are used to perform the calculations required to
simulate the free-stream flow of the fluid, and the interaction of the fluid
(liquids and gases) with surfaces defined by boundary conditions.
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CFD is based on the navier- stokes equations. Arising from applying newton’s
second law to fluid motion, together with the assumption that the stress in the
fluidis the sum of a diffusing viscous term and a pressure term, these equations
describe how the velocity, pressure, temperature, and density of a moving fluid
are correlated.
Ongoing research yields software that improves the accuracy and speed of
complex simulation scenarios such as transonic or turbulent flows. Initial
validation of such software is typically performed analytical or empirical
analysis of a particular problem can be used for comparison. A final validation

is often performed using full-scale testing, such as flight tests.

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 LITERATURE REVIEW
Many studies have been carried out on the performances of PTCs using
synthetic oils and nanofluids as heat transfer fluid. The latter are formed by
suspending nanoparticles (1nm100nm) in a traditional heat transfer fluid. These
so-called nanofluids display good thermal properties compared with fluids
conventionally used [1]
Choi is the first who used the nanofluid term at the 1995 annual winter meeting
of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as he presented the
possibility of doubling the convection heat transfer coefficients using nano-
fluids. In addition to this work, researchers in Japan and Germany have
published articles concerning similar fluids [2].
Heris et al conducted experiments with the Al2O3 and CuO nanoparticles
suspended in water under laminar flow. They found that the heat transfers
could increase of about 40% while the improvement of thermal conductivity
doesn’t exceed 15% [3].
Tyagi et al studied theoretically the efficiency of a low-temperature nanofluid-
based direct absorption solar collector using a mixture of water and aluminium,
where the nanoparticle volume fraction varies from 0.1 % to 5%. They found
that the efficiency increases significantly for low volume fractions of
nanoparticles, whereas for values higher than 2% the efficiency levels off.
They also investigated the size of nanoparticles (1nm-20nm) at the volume
fraction of 0.8%: the efficiency increases slightly with increasing size of
nanoparticles [4].
Otanicar et al carried out both experimental and the CFD investigations with
different types of nanofluids like carbon nanotubes, graphite and silver, in
order to study their effect on the system performance. It was concluded that by
using graphite nanoparticles having an average size of 30 nm, performance of
the DASC was increased up to 3% as compared with conventional working
fluid. It was also found out that with decrement in the size of silver particle
from 40 nm to 20 nm, an improvement of about 6% in the efficiency of solar
collector was seen [5].
Khullar et al investigated theoretically in 2012 thermal efficiency of a
nanofluid-based direct absorption solar parabolic trough collector. They used

19
aluminium nanoparticles at the volume fraction of 0.05% suspended in the base
fluid Therminol-VP1. Their results showed that thermal efficiency increases
compared to a conventional PTC by 10 % at low temperatures and by 5% at
high temperatures. [6]
Yousefi et al. have used Al2O3 nanoparticles for the preparation Al2O3-H2O
nanofluid. This prepared sample was used as a working fluid in flat plate solar
collector, and it was found that efficiency of collector got improved by 28.3%
at 0.2 wt% of nanofluid as compared with water.[7]
Han et al. carried out comparative analysis on the efficiency of tubular solar
collector with three different nanofluids consisting of Al2O3, ZnO and MgO in
water based and it was found out that that the nanofluid of ZnO-water at 0.2%
volume concentration was a better selection as working fluid in the solar
collector than other tested nanofluids.[8]
Saini et al. carried out an experiment with nanofluid of single wall carbon
nanohorns (SWCNH) dispersed in water to investigate their thermal and optical
characteristics in view of their use as working fluid in solar collector device. It
was reported that their thermal conductivity was higher as compared with
conventional water. Photonic properties of the fluid containing SWCNHs were
also improved too much extent which was confirmed by spectral transmission
measurement.[9]
Taylor et al carried out both experimental and theoretical investigation in order
to evaluate theperformance of nanofluid as working fluid in high flux solar
collectors. The result showed that when graphitetherminol VP-1 nanofluid with
a volume concentration of 0.01% nanofluid was used as a working fluid in
solar collector, an improvement in efficiency of about 10% was seen as
compared to water.[10]
Marcatelli et al. performed experimental investigation in order to study both
absorption and the scattering properties of carbon nanohorns nanoparticles
dispersed in an aqueous solution of water for the usage as a working fluid in
solar collector. The different morphologies of carbon nanohorns like: dahlia,
bud, seed were taken during the investigation. Surfactant was also used for the
preparation of sample. From the scattering results it was revealed that the only
small portion of light (less than 5%) was scattered by the single walled carbon
nanohorns-water based nanofluid. It means as high as 95% of the incoming
20
solar radiations will be absorbed by the fluid, which in turns improves the
system efficiency.[11]
Moghadam et al. conducted experimental analysis on the flat plate solar
collector using copper oxide-water (CuO-H2O) nanofluid. Comparison in
terms of collector efficiency was drawn between both conventional fluid like
water and a nanofluid (CuO-H2O). Copper-oxide nanoparticle (CuO) of an
average size of 40 nm was used. Nanofluid of 0.4% volume of fraction at three
different mass flows (1 kg/min, 2 kg/min and 3 kg/min) was made to flow
inside an absorber tube. It was shown that at mass flow rate of 1kg/min, an
improvement of about 21.8% in efficiency of solar collector was seen as
compared with conventional fluid water. It was also concluded that there is an
existence of an optimum mass flow rate for particular volume of fraction of
nanofluid, at which maximum possible efficiency of the flat plate solar
collector will be achieved. Finally it was remarked that enhancement in the
efficiency of the solar collector was generally witnessed due to improved
thermal properties of the nanofluid, as compared with the normal fluid like
water etc.[12]
Hemanth k. Gupta et al. conducted experimental evaluation of direct absorption
solar collector using different concentrations of Al2O3nanofluid and observed
the collector efficiency enhancement of 32.2% and 12.8% for 0.01 vol% and
0.001 vol% respectively.[13]
Y. Raja sekhar et al. performed heat transfer experiments in a pipe using water
and water based nanofluids. The increase inheat transfer coefficient in plain
tube with use of nanofluids is greater by 8-12% compared to flow of water.
The nanofluid of 0.5% particle concentration is having highest friction factor
compard to water.[14]
M. Mahendran et al. performed analysis of evacuated tube solar collector
using water based titanium oxide nanofluid and found out, the temperature rise
in nanofluid is 19% higher than water at the exit of collector, maximum
eefficiency of the system using 0.3% TiO2nanofluid is 0.73, and for distilled
water is 0.53.[15]
Samuel Sami conducted study on performance analysis of thermal solar
collectors using nanofluids with nano particles CuO, Fe3O4 and SiO2 and
showed that different nano particles increase the solar panel heat absorbed with
21
the increase of the heat transfer fluid flow rate, higher nanofluid mass flow rate
increases the thermal solar panel efficiency.[16]
Wisam J Khudhayer et al. performed experiment on enhancement heat transfer
performance of fla plate solar collector using CuO/ water and TiO2/water
nanofluids concluded that CuO/ water nanofluid exhibited higher heat transfer
performance compared to TiO2/water nanofluid and maximum efficiency
found to be 53%.[17]
M A Alim et al. conducted performance analysis of a solar collector using
nanofluids and concluded that thermal performance and efficiency of flat plate
solar collector inproves with increasing nanoparticles volume percentage due
to enhanced heat transfer to nanofluid flow.[18]
RoghayehGhasempour et al. investigated the thermal performance of nanofluid
based flat-plate solar collector and studied, for spherical alumina nanoparticles,
the collector efficiency enhances by increasing particle volume fraction[19]
Ankit S Gujrathi et al. performed fluent analysis on parabolic trough collector
and concluded thetemperature decreases, heat transfer rate enhances with the
increase in mass flow rate shown by increased heat transfer coefficient and
nusselt number.[20]
Ketan Ajay et al. conducted experimental and CFD investigation on the
efficiency of parabolic solar collector involving alumina – deionized water
nanofluid as working fluid and concluded that improvement of about 18 % is
observed when the volumetric flow rate of 0.125% vol. conc. Alumina –water
nanofluid is used.[21]

22
 PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTOR
3.1 PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTOR:
A parabolic trough collector is a type of solar thermal collector that is straight
in one dimension and curved as a parabola in the other two, lined with a
polished metal mirror. The sunlight which enters the mirror parallel to its plane
of symmetry is focused along the focal line, where objects are positioned that
are intended to be heated. In a solar cooker, for example, food is placed at the
focal line of a trough, which is cooked when the trough is aimed so the Sun is
in its plane of symmetry.
For other purposes, a tube containing a fluid runs the length of the trough at its
focal line. The sunlight is concentrated on the tube and the fluid heated to a
high temperature by the energy of the sunlight. The hot fluid can be piped to
a heat engine, which uses the heat energy to drive machinery, or to generate
electricity. This solar energy collector is the most common and best known
type of parabolic trough.
When heat transfer fluid is used to heat steam to drive a standard turbine
generator, thermal efficiency ranges from 60-80%. The overall efficiency from
collector to grid, i.e. (Electrical Output Power)/(Total Impinging Solar Power)
is about 15%, similar to PV (Photovoltaic Cells) but less than Stirling dish
concentrators. Large-scale solar thermal power plants need a method for
storing the energy, such as a thermocline tank, which uses a mixture of silica
sand and quartzite rock to displace a significant portion of the volume in the
tank. It is then filled with the heat transfer fluid, typically a molten nitrate salt.
As of 2014, the largest solar thermal power systems using parabolic trough
technology include the 354 MW SEGS plants in California, the
280 MW Solana Generating Station with molten salt heat storage, the
250 MW Genesis Solar Energy Project, the Spanish 200 MW Solaben Solar
Power Station, and the Andasol 1 solar power station.[22]

23
Figure 3.1: Parabolic trough collector

3.2 HISTORY OF PARABOLIC TROUGH POWER PLANT TECHNOLOGY:

John Ericsson constructed in 1880 the first known parabolic trough collector.
He used it to power a hot air engine. In 1907, the Germans Wilhelm Meier and
Adolf Remshardt obtained the first patent of parabolic trough technology. The
purpose was the generation of steam.
In 1913, the English F. Shuman and the American C.V. Boys constructed a 45
kW pumping plant for irrigation in Meadi, Egypt, which used the energy
supplied by trough collectors. The pumps were driven by steam motors, which
received the steam from the parabolic troughs. The constructors used parabolic
trough collectors with a length of 62m and an aperture width of 4m. The total
aperture area was 1,200 m². The system was able to pump 27,000 litres of
water per minute.
Despite the success of the plant, it was shut down in 1915 due to the onset of
World War I and also due to lower fuel prices, which made more rentable the
application of combustion technologies.

The interest in the parabolic trough technology did not rise again until 1977,
when the US Department of Energy as well as the German Federal Ministry of
Research and Technology began to fund the development of several process
heat machines and water pump systems with parabolic trough collectors.

24
Higher fossil fuel prices encouraged the governments to take new measures.
Results of these measures were, for instance, the following:
 Between 1977 and 1982, the company Acurex installed parabolic
trough demonstration systems with a total aperture area of almost
10,000 m² in the USA for process heat applications.
 The first modern line-focusing solar power plant was a 150 kWe
facility that was built in 1979 in Coolidge/Arizona.
 Nine member states of the International Energy Agency participated in
the project of building demonstration facilities with a rated power of
500 kW at the Plataforma Solar de Almeria, which was put into
operation in 1981.
The first private financed process heat machine with 5580 m² parabolic trough
collectors was successfully put into operation in 1983 in Arizona for thermal
heating of electrolyte tanks in a copper processing company. These trough
systems developed for industrial process heat application were capable of
generating temperatures higher than 260⁰ C.In 1983, Southern California
Edison (SCE) signed an aggrement with Luz international Limited to purchase
power from the first two commercial solar thermal power plants that should be
constructed in the Mojave Dessert in California. These power plants, called
Solar Electric Generating System (SEGS) I and II, started operation in the
years 1985 and 1986. Later, Luz signed a number of standard offer contracts
with SCE that led to the development of the SEGS III to SEGS IX plants.
Initially, the plant size was limited to 30 MW. It was later raised to 80 MW. In
total, nine plants with a total capacity of 354 MW were built.
3.3 PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTOR PARAMETERS:
Underneath are some of the terms that are present when discussing
concentrating collectors.
 Aperture area (Aa): It is the plane opening of the concentrator through which
the incident solar flux is accepted. For a cylindrical or linear concentrator it is
characterized by the width, while for a surface of revolution it is characterized
by the diameter of the opening.
 Absorber Area (Aabs): It is the total area receiving the concentrated
radiation. It is also the area from which useful energy is delivered to the

25
system.
 Acceptance Angle (2ɵc): It is the limiting angle over which incident ray path
may deviate from normal to the aperture plane and still reach the absorber.
Concentrators with large acceptance angle need to be moved on seasonally
while concentrators with smaller acceptance angle need to be moved
continuously to track the sun.
 Geometric Concentrating Ratio (CR): It is the ratio of effective area of the
aperture to the surface area of the absorber. Value of concentrating ratio varies
from 1 (limiting value for a flat plate collector) to few thousand (for a parabolic
collector). 𝑪𝑹 = 𝑨𝒂/𝑨𝒂𝒃𝒔 ……………(4.10)
 Local Concentration Ratio: It may so happen that the absorber in some
systems may not be fully or uniformly illuminated, thus in order to characterize
this local concentration this term is defined. It is defined as the ration of flux
arriving at any point on the absorber to the incident flux at the entrance
aperture of the concentrating system.
 Intercept factor (Y): It is the fraction of focused energy intercepted by the
absorber of a given size. For a typical concentrator receiver design 29 its value
depends on the size of absorber generally is has a value greater than 0.9.
However if the radiation is normal to the aperture, its value is 1.

3.4 COLLECTOR GEOMETRY:

The collector, the parabolic trough, is a trough the cross-section of which has
the shape of a part of a parabola. More exactly, it is a symmetrical section of a
parabola around its vertex.
Parabolic troughs have a focal line, which consists of the focal points of the
parabolic cross-sections. Radiation that enters in a plane parallel to the optical
plane is reflected in such a way that it passes through the focal line.

26
A proof of the existence of a focal point is presented in the annex. An
appropriate analytic representation of a parabola is

--- (1)

Where f is the focal length, i.e. the distance between the vertex of the parabola
and the focal point.

3.5 KEY COMPONENTS OF PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTOR:

Key components of Parabolic Trough based system can be classified on the
basis of their individual functions:
 Collector
 Receiver
 Trough stand
 Tracking system
3.5.1 COLLECTOR:
The collector of a parabolic trough is an assembly of curved shaped reflectors
arranged on a structural steel framework. The reflectors are arranged so as to
give a parabolic shape and reflect the incident solar radiation onto to a tubular

receiver.

27
 (a)Mirrors(b) Support structure

Figure 3.4: (a) Mirror (b) support structure

Specifications:

TYPE SPECIFICATION

Material – Tempered and toughened solar grade glass tested

for scratches and durability

Shape - parabolic

Thickness – 3-4 mm
Glass mirror
Reflective coating – silver back coating

Specular reflectivity – more than 93%

Protective coating – edge sealing coat on all sides of mirrors

cut in different sizes after rubbing and cleaning them properly

Special weather protection coat to be made for mirrors to be

used in coastal and colder regions
Glass mirror
Strength & durability – applicable standards ISO 6270-
2:2005,ISO 9227:2012

Material – painted (polyesters, acrylics and epoxy/polyester

paints) Aluminium substrate

Substrate thickness- 0.38- 0.50 mm

Silver reflective
film backed by Shape- parabolic

Aluminium Reflective coating – solar grade silver film of 0.10-0.12 mm

thickness

Edge sealing – use of edge tape/caulk

28
 Specular Reflectivity – more than 94%

Strength & durability – EN 485-2:2008; ASTM D882; ISO

9227:2012

Material – Solar Grade Anodized Aluminium substrate

Solar grade Shape – Parabolic

anodized aluminium Thickness – 0.3 – 0.8mm
reflector Reflective Coating – PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition)
coating Specular Reflectivity – at least 88 %

Protective Coating – Solar lacquer/Teflon coating/Epoxy

coating for corrosion protection

Strength & Durability – ISO 9227:2012, ISO 4623,EN 485-2:

2008; ASTM D882

Table 3.1: Specifications of collector

3.5.2 RECEIVER:

The receiver of parabolic trough is placed at the line focus of a trough so as to

capture the solar radiation and transfer the same to the thermal medium used in
the system. In India, the receiver being used is evacuated/non-evacuated type
comprising of a linear absorber constructed of a metallic tube surrounded by a
glass tube.

29
 Figure 3.5: Receiver
Specifications:
SUB SPECIFICATION
COMPONENTS
Absorber Design – Linear round tube Material – Stainless Steel
304 grade Thickness – 1 - 2mm Diameter – 25 - 35
mm Durability – Minimum 10 years

Absorber coating Material – Black Chrome/ Solar grade absorber

paint/Selective Coating (AS (C2-80)) Absorptivity –
0.90 – 0.95 Emissivity – 0.09 - 0.15

Glass cover Design - Linear round tube Material - Borosilicate

glass Transmitivity – At least 95% Thickness – 2 -
3mm Diameter – 50 - 80 mm Durability – Minimum
10 years

Absorber glass fixing Glass to Metal sealing methods – Matched thermal

expansion seal and unmatched thermal expansion sea

30
 Figure 3.6: absorber glass fixing

Receiver fixing A receiver is fixed on to a mirror support structure

with the help of standard steel sections/angles, die
cast Aluminium clamps and fasteners and should
have adequate expansion provision.

Table 3.2: Specifications of receiver

3.5.3 TROUGH STAND:

The basic framework of a trough stand is a steel structure. The structure is de-
signed so as to withstand wind speed in an operating condition as well as in
parked stage as per the existing structural design code. Overall system rests on

a civil foundation made for the purpose.

Figure 3.7: Trough

stand

3.5.4 TRACKING SYSTEM:

A PTC uses direct solar radiation as a heat source. As the sun’s relative
position changes every second, a solar tracking system is needed to improve its
efficiency. Two types of solar tracking are used in PTCs namely, north-south
and east-west, as represented in below figure. Tracking methods are so named
based on the direction of rotation of collector’s aperture plane. In north-south

31
tracking, the receiver (parallel to tracking axis) is aligned to east-west
direction, so the collector’s aperture plane rotates from north to south and vice
versa. The opposite case is the east-west tracking type in which the receiver is
aligned to north-south direction and the aperture plane rotates from east to
west. The north-south tracking method has the advantage of lower tracking
energy consumption, but with a higher end- effect. For east-west tracking
systems, the opposite is the case (lower end effect and higher energy
consumption).

Figure 3.8: Common tracking methods: (a) north-south, (b) east-west.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

4.1 PROJECT OBJECTIVE:

The objective of the project is to simulate the solar collector fluid flow with in
the parabolic trough collector with Nano fluid as the working fluid and study

32
the heat transfer capability and working fluid outlet temperature at different
volumetric concentrations of Nano fluids. Nano fluids of water based Al2O3
and water based CUO is used as working fluid at different volumetric
concentrations.
4.2 PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS:
The dimensions and other parameters of components of the parabolic trough
collector are shown in the table below
Parabolic trough:
Length 2m
Width 1.5 m
Rim angle (ϕ) 90o
Focus 0.375 m
Thickness 5mm
Reflectivity 0.9
Table 4.1: Parameters of collector
Absorber tube:
Inner diameter 0.038 m
Outer diameter 0.042 m
Length 2m
Solar absorptivity 0.94
Thermal emittance 0.08
Table 4.2: Parameters of absorbing tube
Parabolic trough collector is a concentrated type solar collector system. The
solar rays that is reflected from the parabolic trough is concentrated on the
surface of the absorber tube. This energy will increase the temperature of the
absorber tube and this heat energy is transferred to working fluid flowing
inside the absorber tube through convection.
The present work focuses on simulating the process of the parabolic trough
collector in ANSYS fluent software and perform the CFD flow analysis on
working fluid and study the temperature change in the outlet temperature of
working fluid with different concentrations of water based Al2O3 and CUO
working fluid.

33
4.3 PROPERTIES OF NANO PARTICLES:
The average size of the Nano particles is 20-60 nm. To calculate the thermo
physical properties of both Nano particles and base fluid. The base fluid is
water. The properties of the Nano particles Al2O3 and CUO are shown in the
table below.
Property CUO Al2O3 Water
Density[kg/m3] 6500 3970 997.1

Specific heat[J/kg- 535.6 765 4178

K]
Thermal 20 40 0.61
conductivity [W/m-
K]
Dynamic viscosity - - 0.000853
[kg/m-s]
Table 4.3: Thermo physical properties of nano particles and water

4.4 PROPERTIES OF NANO FLUIDS:

The properties of Nano fluids will be based on the type Nano particle
employed and the base fluid used. It also depends on the volumetric
concentration of Nano particles. Volumetric concentration means total
percentage of Nano particles present in the 100 % of Nano fluid. The Nano
fluid that we are using is a water based fluid where certain volume of Nano
particles of CUO and Al2O3 are added added to water to create Nano fluid.
The physical and thermal properties of Nano fluid with different concentrations
are calculated using the correlations described below.

1. Density of Nano fluid:

rnf =rnp∅ + (1-∅)rbf .
wherernf = density of nanofluid
rnp = density of Nano particle
∅ = volumetric concentration

34
 2. Specific heat of Nano fluid:
Cnf = (∅rnpCpnp+(1-∅)rbfCpbf) /rnf
WhereCnf =specific heat of Nano fluid
Cpnp = specific heat of Nano particle
Cpbf= specific heat of base fluid
3. Thermal conductivity (K):
Knf = (Knp+2Kbf+2∅(Knp–Kbf) /Knp+2Kbf-∅( Knp–Kbf)) *Kbf

WhereKnf = thermal conductivity of Nano fluid in W/m-K

Knp = thermal conductivity of Nano particle in W/m-K
Kbf = thermal conductivity of base fluid in W/m-K
4. Viscosity of Nano fluid :
mnf = mbf(1-∅)-2.5
wheremnf = viscosity of Nano fluid
mbf = viscosity of base fluid

These are the correlations used to calculate thermo physical properties of nano
fluid with water as the base fluid. The calculated properties are shown in the

table below.

Water based Al2O3 Nano fluid:

Concentration Density[kg/m3] Specific heat Thermal Viscosity
[J/kg-k] conductivity[w/m-k] [kg/m-s]

0.01 1026.82 4046.07 0.6276 0.0008747

35
0.05 1145.74 3586.71 0.7018 0.0009670
0.1 1294.39 3131.20 0.8033 0.0011100
0.2 1591.68 2475.44 1.0423 0.0014901
0.4 2186.26 1698.95 1.7423 0.003058
Table 4.4: Thermo physical properties of water based Al2O3 Nano fluid

Water based CUO Nano fluid:

Concentration Density Specific Thermal Viscosity [kg/m-
[kg/m3] heat[J/kg-k] conductivity[w/m- s]
k]
0.01 1052.12 3953.00 0.6268 0.000874
0.05 1272.24 3247.54 0.6976 0.000969
0.1 1547.39 2647.96 0.7940 0.0011100
0.2 2097.68 1920.68 1.0192 0.001490
0.4 3198.26 1216.93 1.664 0.003058
Table 4.5: thermo physical properties of water based CUO Nano fluid
Using these properties a Nano fluid material, for each concentration is defined
separately in the ansys fluent materials tab and assigned to the working fluid
domain to study the temperature characteristics at the outlet of the absorber
tube.
Ansys fluent:
In this CFD analysis of parabolic trough collector simulation working fluid is
made to flow inside the absorber tube is carried out using ANSYS FLUENT
2021 R1 software. Solar flux effects is simulated using solar load model

available in the software.

Following governing equations are solved by the software to

obtain the desired results.
1. Continuity equation
(jρ/jt)+ (j(ρuj)/jxi) = 0
2. Momentum equation
(j(ρui)/jt)+ (j(ρujρui)/jxi)=(j/jxj)[ρδij+mt((j(jui)/jxj)+(j(juj)/jxi))]
+ρgi
36
 3. Energy equation
((j(ρCpΤ)/jt)+(j(ρuiCpΤ)/jxi)-(j[l(jΤ/jxj)]/jxj=ST
Where ui is the time velocity vector, ρ is the density of fluid, Cp is
the specific heat of fluid, Τ is temperature, δij is skronecker delta
function, l is the bulk viscosity coefficient, xi and xj are spatial
coordinate, mt is eddy viscosity.
The procedure followed for the analysis is described in the next
chapter.

PROCEDURE
The design of the parabolic trough collector is done in CATIA V5 R20
software. Part design workbench is used to create the solid components of
parabolic trough collector. The designed part is then 37nalysed in fluent
workbench of ANSYS 2021 R1 software.
5.1 GEOMETRIC MODELLING OF PARABOLIC TROUGH
COLLECTOR USING SPACECLAIM:
First a plane has to be selected on which 2D sketch of the geometry will be
designed. To align with the coordinate axis present in the ANSYS software XY
plane is selected as the sketching plane.
Parabolic trough:

37
 Parabola command in the profile tool bar is utilized in sketching the
model of parabola according to the geometric specifications. A width of 1.5m
with the focus point of the parabola as the origin is given to the sketch using
the constrain tool. The focus of the parabola is given as 0.375mm. Then to
create a solid part pad command in part design is used with length as two
meter. A thickness of 5mm is given to the parabolic trough.
Absorber tube:
Again XY plane is selected to sketch the geometry. Using circle
command in profile tool bar two concentric circles are drawn with center point
as origin and diameters as specified. Then a solid part is created in part design
used pad same as the parabolic trough.
The design specifications of the components of parabolic trough collector is
specified in the chapter before.
The designed part geometry of the parabolic trough collector is shown in the
figure 5.1
The design file should be saved with .stp extension so that the geometry file
can be imported in to the ANSYS.
5.2 ANALYSIS PROCEDURE IN ANSYS FLUENT:
The procedure of solving a problem in ansys fluent is a step by step procedure
which includes importing or designing geometry, generating mesh, setting up
the physics and solver conditions, solving the problem for solution and
observing the results.

38
 Figure 5.1: Designed model of PTC in CATIA V5
Fluent contains following main elements
1. Pre-processing
a. Geometry
b. Mesh
c. Physics and solver configuration
2. Solution
a. Compute solutions(solving the solution)
3. Post processing
a. Examine results Figure 5.2: Fluent
solver steps

5.3 GEOMETRY:
To import the geometry file, right click on the geometry will prompt us to

39
import command using which we can browse for the .stp file created and
imported in to the ANSYS.
Fluid domain needs to be created to simulate the flow of working fluid. Space
claim is used to create the fluid domain. A solid cylinder of 38mm diameter
and 2m length is modeled in space claim to fit inside the created absorber tube
geometry. This cylinder will act as a working fluid that will flow inside the
absorber tube. It is shown in the figure below.

Figure 5.3: Fluid domain model designed in space claim

5.4 MESH:
Discretization of the given geometry in to smaller number of cells is called
meshing. The purpose of meshing is to actually make the problem solvable
using finite element. By meshing we can break down the domain in to number
of pieces, each piece representing an element or cell. We need these elements
to apply finite element since, finite element is about solving the elements to get
a local solution and combining all these solutions of elements to build the
global solution for the problem. Another aspect of meshing is the accuracy of

the solution. A refined mesh will generate an accurate global solution.

After opening the mechanical APDL application the geometry is displayed.
First default mesh is generated using the mesh option. The default mesh is not
refined. Edge sizing is applied by inserting sizing option in the mesh. Edge
sizing with number of divisions as 40 is applied to the fluid domain. Again

40
edge sizing with number of divisions 40 is applied to the absorbing tube to
create a uniform cell boundary and conformal mesh at the contact region. Edge
Sizing is used to smoothen the edges and to get a good mesh. Body sizing is of
20 mm is applied to the parabolic trough body. As the value of the Body Sizing
element decreases the Skewness value of the design decreases. The Body
Sizing of the design has to be done in order to create a good mesh and meshes
the whole body at once. After meshing is done quality of the mesh has to be
checked. The skewness value of the mesh has to be as minimum as possible,
and the orthogonal quality of the mesh should be between 0.7-0.95 for a good
quality mesh.
Inlet and outlet named selections are given to the faces of fluid domain one on
each face. The upper face of absorber tube is given a named selection as
absorbing surface, and the upper face of parabolic trough is given a named
selection as reflecting surface.

Figure5.4: Mesh of fluid domain

41
 Figure 5.5: Meshed domain
5.5 SET UP:
The analysis has to be done using fluent solver. The set up will launch a fluent
solver which is used to apply physics and solver configuration of the analysis.
In the schematic double-clicking the set up will launch the ANSYS Fluent.
When the ANSYS Fluent is first started fluent launcher is displayed, allowing
to view and set certain ANSYS FLUENT start-up options. The mesh is
automatically loaded and displayed in the graphics window by default when
fluent setup is started. Double precision and parallel processing option has been
selected for a faster and more accurate solution.

5.5.1 GENERAL
PROPERTIES:
The steady model has
been selected as the
analysis being done is
not a time dependent
analysis, and gravity i.e.
acceleration due to
gravity of 9.81 m2/s is applied in negative Y direction.

42
5.5.2 MODEL SET UP:
ENERGY: In the model energy is turned on. It will enable the transfer of
energy between components of the geometry. This condition will solve the
energy equation.
VISCOUS MODEL: Laminar model is selected as the viscous model for this
analysis.
RADIATION:
ANSYS FLUENT provides five radiation models which allow you to include
radiation, with or without participating medium, in heat transfer simulation. In
addition to these models ANSYS FLUENT also provides a solar load model
that allows us to include the effects of solar radiation in simulation.
SURFACE TO SURFACE (S2S) MODEL: Surface to surface radiation model
is applied to solve the radiation equation between the geometry. It is used to
simulate the radiation heat transfer, which is arising in the closed set of the
diffuse surfaces. The surface-to-surface radiation model can be used to account
for the radiation exchange in an enclosure of grey-diffuse surfaces. In this
radiation model assumes that the surfaces are grey and diffuse i.e. there is no
dependency of the wave length of the incoming radiation on the surface. The
energy exchange between two surfaces depends in part on their size, separation
distance and orientation. These parameters are accounted for, by a geometric
function called a “view factor”. In S2S radiation model, the view factor of the
participating zone are calculated. Outer surface of the absorber tube is taken
into consideration during the calculation of shape factor.

43
 Figure 5.7: radiation model set up for analysis
SOLAR LOAD MODEL: ANSYS FLUENT provides a solar load model that
can be used to calculate radiation effects from the sun's rays that enter a
computational domain The solar load model includes a solar calculator utility
that can be used to construct the sun's location in the sky for a given time-of-
day, date, and position. Solar load is available in the 3D solver only, and can be
used to model steady and unsteady flows.
The solar load model's ray tracing algorithm can be used to predict the direct
illumination energy source that results from incident solar radiation. It takes a
beam that is modelled using the sun position vector and illumination
parameters, applies it to any or all wall or inlet/outlet boundary zones that you
specify, performs a face-by-face shading analysis to determine well-defined
shadows on all boundary faces and interior walls, and computes the heat flux
on the boundary faces that results from the incident radiation.
Solar load cell is used for modelling the solar fluxes. In the solar load cell,
value of latitude, longitude of the location and date & time of the experiment
specified. Values of the mesh orientation as desired like negative z axis for the
north and while for east positive x-axis is also specified in the solar calculator
for the present analysis. On substitution of all the required inputs in the solar
calculator, values for direct normal solar radiation on the ground, diffuse solar
radiation for both vertical and horizontal surface, ground reflected solar

44
radiation for vertical surface and vector for sun direction are obtained.
The solar calculator is set at the 79.41 E longitude and 13.62 N latitude which
corresponds to the location Tirupati at 13:00 (IST).

Figure 5.8: Parameters given to solar calculator

The solar radiation values calculated from solar calculator are

Direct normal solar irradiation 878.223[W/m2]

Diffuse solar irradiation-vertical surface 82.7263 [W/m2]
Diffuse solar irradiation-horizontal surface 117.682 [W/m2]
Ground reflected solar irradiation 95.8203 [W/m2]
Table 5.3: Radiation outcomes of solar calculator

45
5.5.3 MATERIALS:
This section involves copying the required materials that are to be assigned for
the components of the model, from the ANSYS FLUENT material database
and defining the materials that are not available in the database. The required
materials are aluminium, copper, water, water based Al2O3 Nano fluid, and
water based CuO Nano fluid.
The properties of the materials aluminium, copper, and water are available in
the fluent database. The physical properties Nano fluids with different
concentrations are defined in the materials model to create the material. The
thermo physical properties of these materials are shown in the below table.
The thermo physical properties of water based Al2O3 Nano fluid, water based
CuO Nano fluid with different volumetric concentrations are given in the
project description chapter.

Material Density(kg/m3) Specific Thermal Viscosity

heat(J/kg-K) conductivity (kg/m-s)
(W/m-K)
Aluminium 2719 871 202.4 -
Copper 8978 381 387.6 -
Water 997.1 4178 0.61 0.000853
Table 5.4: Physical properties of materials

5.5.4 CELL ZONE CONDITIONS:

This section involves assigning the material to the respective components of

the model as per the specification. So the material assignment is as follows
Parabolic trough [collector]: Aluminium

Absorber tube: Copper

Fluid domain: water, Nano fluids.

46
 Figure 5.9: cell zone condition for PTC

5.5.5 BOUNDARY CONDITIONS:

Various boundary conditions are applied for the wall boundaries created for
solving the governing equations. They are
Inlet: mass flow rate inlet with 0.5 kg/s and fluid inlet temperature of 300K.

Figure 5.10: inlet boundary condition

47
Outlet: it is assigned as outflow condition
The walls that are generated by the mesh are shown in the given below.

Figure 5.11: Walls generated

Figure 5.12: Boundary condition for collector

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 Figure 5.13: Boundary condition for absorbing surface wall
For all other walls that are generated coupled thermal condition is applied with
the respective radiation parameters and participation in solar ray tracing is
enabled.
After that view factor file is computed in the radiation model for the
calculation of view factors between the components involving in the radiation.
NUMERICAL METHODOLOGY: Different governing equations of mass,
momentum and energy are solved through the finite volume method using
pressure based segregated spatially implicit solver. Analysis is carried out for
stead state condition to observe the temperature raise in working fluid due to
absorption of energy.

49
5.5.6 SOLUTION METHODS:

In this section methods to solve the governing equations of mass, momentum and
energy is selected. Coupled scheme is selected in the pressure- velocity coupling. This
scheme is used for achieving the coupling between momentum and continuity
equation. It is used to solve the momentum and pressure based continuity equations

together. The coupled scheme obtains a robust and efficient single phase
implementation for steady state flows. In the spatial discretization least square cell
based method is selected. For solving the pressure, momentum and energy equations
second order upwind scheme is used.

Figure 5.14: Solution methods

Then the solution is initialized with hybrid initialization and proceeded for
solution with 100 iterations. The results are then viewed in the CFD post
processor. Thus the solution simulation in ansys fluent is done.

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 RESULT& DISCUSSION

6.1 RESULT:
Fluent analysis of parabolic trough collector with different
volumetric concentration of water based Al2O3 and water based
CUO nanofluids was done using ANSYS software and results are
discussed here.
6.2 COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS CONTOURS:

Figure 6.1: Temperature contour with water as working fluid

The maximum temperature of the outlet of the water observed is 356.3 K. The
velocity contour is shown above. It can be observed that the velocity of fluid
near the boundary of the wall is minimum because of the shear stress on the
fluid by the wall boundary.
Because of the usage of the nanofluids as working fluid temperature, at the

outlet has improved.

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 Figure 6.2: velocity contour with water as working fluid

6.3 TEMPERATURE CONTOURS OF NANO FLUID:

Figure 6.3: Temperature contour with 0.01% volumetric concentration Al 2O3 - water
nanofluid

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Figure 6.4: Temperature contour with 0.05% volumetric concentration Al 2O3 - water
nanofluid

53
Figure 6.5: Temperature contour with 0.1% volumetric concentration Al 2O3 - water
nanofluid

Figure 6.6: Temperature contour with 0.2% volumetric concentration Al 2O3 - water
nanofluid

54
Figure 6.7: Temperature contour with 0.4% volumetric concentration Al 2O3 - water
nanofluid

55
Figure 6.8: Temperature contour with 0.01% volumetric concentrationCUO - water
nanofluid

Figure 6.9: Temperature contour with 0.05% volumetric concentrationCUO - water

nanofluid

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Figure 6.10: Temperature contour with 0.1% volumetric concentrationCUO - water
nanofluid

57
 Figure 6.11: Temperature contour with 0.2% volumetric concentrationCUO - water
nanofluid

Figure 6.12: Temperature contour with 0.4% volumetric concentrationCUO - water

nanofluid

As we can see from the temperature contours the outlet temperature of the
working fluid has increased with the usage of nanofluids. So the temperature
has increased sequentially with the increase in the volumetric concentration of
the nano particles. The increase in temperature is achieved by the improvement
in the thermo physical properties of working fluids especially thermal
conductivity due to addition of nanoparticle.
With the increase in the volumetric concentration of nano particles there is
increase in the properties of working fluid, so is the outlet temperatue of
working fluid. The maximum outlet temperature of Al2O3 - water nanofluid is
shown in the table below.

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 Al2O3Concentration[%] Maximum temperature [k]
0.01 357.4
0.05 361.5
0.1 366.1
0.2 371.8
0.4 375.7
Table 6.1: Maximum outlet temperature of Al2O3 - water nanofluid

The maximum outlet temperature of CUO - water nanofluid is

shown in the table below.
CUO Concentration [%] Maximum temperature [k]
0.01 357.2
0.05 360.8
0.1 364.3
0.2 368.3
0.4 370.7
Table: Maximum outlet temperature of Al2O3 - water nanofluid
The maximum outlet temperature of working fluid is observed with 0.4%
volumetric concentration of Al2O3 - water nanofluid which is 375.5K. The
maximum outlet temperature of CUO - water nanofluid is observed with 0.4%
volumetric concentration which is 370.7K.

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 CONCLUSION
7.1 CONCLUSION:

Improvement in the thermal performance is reported through the CFD

simulation results of parabolic trough collector, when nano fluid is used as
working fluid when compared to water. Also when volumentric concentration
is made to increase, corresponding improvement in the performance of the
parabolic trough collector is witnessed. With 0.4% vol.con. of Al2O3 - water
nanofluid as working fluid , 0.5 kg/s of inlet mass flow rate and 300K inlet
temperature the maximum outlet temperature of 375.5K is observed.

7.2 FUTURE SCOPE OF PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTOR :

The design of the parabolic torque-tube collector structure with rib design used mild
steel as the material, which provides good mechanical strength but accounts for the
increase in the weight of the overall collector. Hence an advanced metal matrix
composite shall be proposed which may overcome these drawbacks. Also the design
uses water as working fluid, this can be replaced by molten salts as they may provide
better heat transfer properties as compared to water. Different combinations of
carbonates–nitrates–chlorides may be used and experiments can be conducted for its
validation for future work.

As the parabolic trough collectors are used for steam generation so they can be
used in existing steam power plants for the pre heating of the water and this
leads to increase in efficiency of power plant by reducing the fuel
consumption. Working with different types of fluid as the working fluid to see
how the efficiency changes. Two similar prototypes of model might be taken
into consideration for finding out the comparison simultaneously as to keep the
intensity constant as intensity changes day to day.
Parametric analysis can be performed on the fabrication system with different
type of reflecting surfaces. Receiver tubes having outer glass coating with and
without vaccum can be used for evacuation purposes. Different absorber
coating materials can be tested to see their effects on the performance of the
system. Receiver tubes with centrally placed inserts of different shapes can also
be tested with the system to see their effects on the performance.

60
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