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Enhancing the performance of a linear Fresnel reflector using nanofluids and internal finned absorber

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Abstract

The objective of this paper is to investigate thermal efficiency enhancement methods in a linear Fresnel reflector (LFR) with evacuated tube receiver. The primary reflectors of the collector are flat mirrors of 27 m2 total net aperture, while the secondary reflector has a parabolic shape. The working fluid is Syltherm 800, and the analysis is performed for temperatures up to 650 K. The use of nanofluids and internal fins is the investigated thermal enhancement methods in the receiver of the LFR. The examined nanofluid is Syltherm/CuO for concentrations 2, 4 and 6%, while the examined internal fins are 8 longitudinal fins which are symmetrically located in the absorber. The LFR is examined using nanofluids and pure thermal oil in smooth or finned absorber. According to the final results, the maximum thermal efficiency enhancement is up to 1% and it is greater for higher operating temperature levels. The use of internal fins is better enhancement method compared to the use of nanofluids, while the combination of these two techniques leads to the highest possible performance. For the inlet temperature of 600 K with 200 L min−1 flow rate, the thermal efficiency enhancement with 4% nanofluid and finned absorber is found 0.82%, while it is found 0.61 and 0.28% with finned absorber with pure oil and 4% nanofluid with smooth absorber, respectively.

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Abbreviations

A a :

Collector net area, m2

C:

Concentration ratio

c p :

Specific heat capacity under constant pressure, J kg−1 K-1

D:

Diameter, m

D m :

Distance between reflectors

E :

Exergy, W

F :

Focal length, m

f :

Friction factor

G b :

Solar direct beam irradiation, W m−2

h :

Heat transfer coefficient, W m−2 K−1

h out :

Convection coefficient between cover and ambient, W m−2 K−1

k :

Thermal conductivity, W m−1 K−1

L :

Tube length, m

m:

Mass flow rate, kg s−1

N rf :

Number of primary reflectors

Nu :

Nusselt number

PEC:

Performance evaluation criterion

Pr :

Prandtl number

p :

Fin length, mm

Q :

Heat flux, W

Re :

Reynolds number

T :

Temperature, K

T am :

Ambient temperature, K

T 0 :

Reference temperature, K

t :

Fin thickness, mm

u :

Fluid velocity, m s−1

V :

Volumetric flow rate, L min−1

V wind :

Ambient air velocity, m s−1

W :

Total width, m

W p :

Pumping work, W

W 0 :

Mirror width, m

α :

Absorber absorbance

β :

Ratio of the nanolayer thickness to the original particle radius

γ :

Intercept factor

ε :

Emittance

ΔP :

Pressure drop, Pa

η ex :

Exergy efficiency

η opt :

Optical efficiency

η th :

Thermal efficiency

θ :

Solar incident angle, o

μ :

Dynamic viscosity, Pa s

ρ :

Density, kg m−3

ρ 1 :

Primary concentrator reflectance

ρ 2 :

Secondary concentrator reflectance

τ :

Cover transmittance

φ :

Nanoparticle volumetric concentration

ω :

Peripheral absorber angle, o

abs:

Absorbed

bf:

Base fluid

c:

Cover

ci:

Inner cover

co:

Outer cover

fm:

Mean fluid

in:

Inlet

loss:

Thermal loss

max:

Maximum

nf:

Nanofluid

np:

Nanoparticle

opt:

Optical

out:

Outlet

r:

Receiver

ri:

Inner receiver

ro:

Outer receiver

s:

Solar

th:

Theoretical

u:

Useful

0:

Reference case (smooth absorber and pure thermal oil)

LFR:

Linear Fresnel reflector

PTC:

Parabolic trough collector

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Acknowledgements

Dr. Evangelos Bellos would like to thank “Bodossaki Foundation” for its financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Thermal Department, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou, Heroon Polytechniou 9, 15780, Athens, Greece

    Evangelos Bellos, Christos Tzivanidis & Angelos Papadopoulos

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  1. Evangelos Bellos
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  2. Christos Tzivanidis
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  3. Angelos Papadopoulos
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Correspondence to Evangelos Bellos.

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Bellos, E., Tzivanidis, C. & Papadopoulos, A. Enhancing the performance of a linear Fresnel reflector using nanofluids and internal finned absorber. J Therm Anal Calorim 135, 237–255 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-018-6989-1

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