Optimizing Parabolic Through Collectors for Solar Stills: A 2D CFD Parametric Analysis

The thermal efficiency of parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) is influenced by various parameters, including length, diameter, and mass flow rate. This study employs 2D steady-state Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate heat transfer within PTCs and enhance their performance....

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Main Authors: Mammar Bouhelal, Amar Rouag, Abdelhamid Bouhelal, Yousef Belloufi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of El Oued 2023-12-01
Series:International Journal of Energetica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.ijeca.info/index.php/IJECA/article/view/224
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author Mammar Bouhelal
Amar Rouag
Abdelhamid Bouhelal
Yousef Belloufi
author_facet Mammar Bouhelal
Amar Rouag
Abdelhamid Bouhelal
Yousef Belloufi
author_sort Mammar Bouhelal
collection DOAJ
description The thermal efficiency of parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) is influenced by various parameters, including length, diameter, and mass flow rate. This study employs 2D steady-state Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate heat transfer within PTCs and enhance their performance. Exploring diverse PTC designs, involving variations in length (L = 0.5 to 3 m) and diameter (D = 10 to 60 mm), sourced from existing research to optimize desalination system applications. The investigation covers both laminar and turbulent regimes with fully developed flows, examining the effects of Reynolds number and mass flow rate. The results highlight that collector diameter has the most pronounced impact on thermal efficiency, followed by mass flow rate, while the effect of length can be neglected in comparison. A 50% diameter increase leads to over a 60% rise in efficiency for both laminar and turbulent cases, whereas a 60% decrease in mass flow rate corresponds to a 50% enhancement and a 60% improvement in efficiency for both regimes. These findings suggest that an optimal PTC design should prioritize a smaller diameter and lower mass flow rate, with length being of secondary importance and application-specific considerations also playing a pivotal role.
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issn 2543-3717
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publishDate 2023-12-01
publisher University of El Oued
record_format Article
series International Journal of Energetica
spelling doaj-art-416c425b8b5a4806b9155ba094e0873a2025-08-20T02:07:52ZengUniversity of El OuedInternational Journal of Energetica2543-37172023-12-01821119136Optimizing Parabolic Through Collectors for Solar Stills: A 2D CFD Parametric AnalysisMammar Bouhelal0Amar Rouag1Abdelhamid Bouhelal2Yousef Belloufi3Laboratoire de Mécanique Appliquée et Systèmes Energétiques, OuarglaLaboratoire de Génie Energétique et Matériaux, University of BiskraNational Polytechnic School of AlgiersLaboratoire de Génie Mécanique, Université de BiskraThe thermal efficiency of parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) is influenced by various parameters, including length, diameter, and mass flow rate. This study employs 2D steady-state Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate heat transfer within PTCs and enhance their performance. Exploring diverse PTC designs, involving variations in length (L = 0.5 to 3 m) and diameter (D = 10 to 60 mm), sourced from existing research to optimize desalination system applications. The investigation covers both laminar and turbulent regimes with fully developed flows, examining the effects of Reynolds number and mass flow rate. The results highlight that collector diameter has the most pronounced impact on thermal efficiency, followed by mass flow rate, while the effect of length can be neglected in comparison. A 50% diameter increase leads to over a 60% rise in efficiency for both laminar and turbulent cases, whereas a 60% decrease in mass flow rate corresponds to a 50% enhancement and a 60% improvement in efficiency for both regimes. These findings suggest that an optimal PTC design should prioritize a smaller diameter and lower mass flow rate, with length being of secondary importance and application-specific considerations also playing a pivotal role.https://www.ijeca.info/index.php/IJECA/article/view/224parabolic trough collector (ptc)computational fluid dynamics (cfd)thermal efficiencyparametric optimizationsolar energy.
spellingShingle Mammar Bouhelal
Amar Rouag
Abdelhamid Bouhelal
Yousef Belloufi
Optimizing Parabolic Through Collectors for Solar Stills: A 2D CFD Parametric Analysis
International Journal of Energetica
parabolic trough collector (ptc)
computational fluid dynamics (cfd)
thermal efficiency
parametric optimization
solar energy.
title Optimizing Parabolic Through Collectors for Solar Stills: A 2D CFD Parametric Analysis
title_full Optimizing Parabolic Through Collectors for Solar Stills: A 2D CFD Parametric Analysis
title_fullStr Optimizing Parabolic Through Collectors for Solar Stills: A 2D CFD Parametric Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing Parabolic Through Collectors for Solar Stills: A 2D CFD Parametric Analysis
title_short Optimizing Parabolic Through Collectors for Solar Stills: A 2D CFD Parametric Analysis
title_sort optimizing parabolic through collectors for solar stills a 2d cfd parametric analysis
topic parabolic trough collector (ptc)
computational fluid dynamics (cfd)
thermal efficiency
parametric optimization
solar energy.
url https://www.ijeca.info/index.php/IJECA/article/view/224
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AT amarrouag optimizingparabolicthroughcollectorsforsolarstillsa2dcfdparametricanalysis
AT abdelhamidbouhelal optimizingparabolicthroughcollectorsforsolarstillsa2dcfdparametricanalysis
AT yousefbelloufi optimizingparabolicthroughcollectorsforsolarstillsa2dcfdparametricanalysis