Improving the thermal performance of flat-plate solar collectors for building applications through hybrid nanofluids and vortex-inducing geometries

This study presents a numerical investigation of the thermal-hydraulic performance and entropy generation characteristics of a flat plate solar collector enhanced by a novel hybrid nanofluid (GO-SiO2/Therminol VP-1) and an innovative vortex generator (VG) configuration. The effects of the Reynolds n...

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Main Authors: Rashid Khan, Waqed H. Hassan, As'ad Alizadeh, Pradeep Kumar Singh, Abdullah Abed Hussein, Khalil Hajlaoui, Saurav Dixit, Amanveer Singh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25006379
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author Rashid Khan
Waqed H. Hassan
As'ad Alizadeh
Pradeep Kumar Singh
Abdullah Abed Hussein
Khalil Hajlaoui
Saurav Dixit
Amanveer Singh
author_facet Rashid Khan
Waqed H. Hassan
As'ad Alizadeh
Pradeep Kumar Singh
Abdullah Abed Hussein
Khalil Hajlaoui
Saurav Dixit
Amanveer Singh
author_sort Rashid Khan
collection DOAJ
description This study presents a numerical investigation of the thermal-hydraulic performance and entropy generation characteristics of a flat plate solar collector enhanced by a novel hybrid nanofluid (GO-SiO2/Therminol VP-1) and an innovative vortex generator (VG) configuration. The effects of the Reynolds number (Re = 19,000–76,000), hybrid nanofluid volume concentration (φ = 0–3.25 %), and VG geometric configuration (ψ = 0°, 15°, 30°, and 45°) on the absorber tube's performance are systematically analyzed. The turbulent flow is simulated using the k-ε turbulence model, while the two-phase mixture approach is employed to accurately model the nanofluid behavior. The use of a new type and shape of VG in the studied geometry and the application of the two-phase mixture model to more accurately model the behavior of nanofluids are among the innovations of this study. The results indicated that increasing ψ enhances heat transfer by generating stronger vortices, leading to up to a 107.4 % improvement in the average Nusselt number compared to the base fluid without a VG. Entropy generation analysis revealed that while thermal entropy generation decreases by up to 9.54 % with an increase in ψ, frictional entropy generation increases by 11.28 %, emphasizing the trade-off between heat transfer augmentation and flow resistance. Among all tested configurations, ψ = 45° and a 3.25 % nanofluid concentration yield the highest performance evaluation criterion, demonstrating the best balance between heat transfer enhancement and pressure drop.
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spelling doaj-art-c075a9eec73f4f2181205d78f11f2d3d2025-08-20T03:08:21ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-08-017210637710.1016/j.csite.2025.106377Improving the thermal performance of flat-plate solar collectors for building applications through hybrid nanofluids and vortex-inducing geometriesRashid Khan0Waqed H. Hassan1As'ad Alizadeh2Pradeep Kumar Singh3Abdullah Abed Hussein4Khalil Hajlaoui5Saurav Dixit6Amanveer Singh7College of Engineering, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaCollege of Engineering, University of Warith Al-Anbiyaa, Kerbala, 56001, IraqDepartment of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Iraq; Corresponding author.Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Engineering and Technology, GLA University, Mathura (U.P.), IndiaAl-Manara College for Medical Sciences, Amarah, Maysan, IraqCollege of Engineering, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaCentre of Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura, 140417, Punjab, IndiaChitkara Centre for Research and Development, Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh, 174103, IndiaThis study presents a numerical investigation of the thermal-hydraulic performance and entropy generation characteristics of a flat plate solar collector enhanced by a novel hybrid nanofluid (GO-SiO2/Therminol VP-1) and an innovative vortex generator (VG) configuration. The effects of the Reynolds number (Re = 19,000–76,000), hybrid nanofluid volume concentration (φ = 0–3.25 %), and VG geometric configuration (ψ = 0°, 15°, 30°, and 45°) on the absorber tube's performance are systematically analyzed. The turbulent flow is simulated using the k-ε turbulence model, while the two-phase mixture approach is employed to accurately model the nanofluid behavior. The use of a new type and shape of VG in the studied geometry and the application of the two-phase mixture model to more accurately model the behavior of nanofluids are among the innovations of this study. The results indicated that increasing ψ enhances heat transfer by generating stronger vortices, leading to up to a 107.4 % improvement in the average Nusselt number compared to the base fluid without a VG. Entropy generation analysis revealed that while thermal entropy generation decreases by up to 9.54 % with an increase in ψ, frictional entropy generation increases by 11.28 %, emphasizing the trade-off between heat transfer augmentation and flow resistance. Among all tested configurations, ψ = 45° and a 3.25 % nanofluid concentration yield the highest performance evaluation criterion, demonstrating the best balance between heat transfer enhancement and pressure drop.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25006379Entropy generationFlat-plate solar collectorHybrid nanofluidNumerical studyVortex generator
spellingShingle Rashid Khan
Waqed H. Hassan
As'ad Alizadeh
Pradeep Kumar Singh
Abdullah Abed Hussein
Khalil Hajlaoui
Saurav Dixit
Amanveer Singh
Improving the thermal performance of flat-plate solar collectors for building applications through hybrid nanofluids and vortex-inducing geometries
Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Entropy generation
Flat-plate solar collector
Hybrid nanofluid
Numerical study
Vortex generator
title Improving the thermal performance of flat-plate solar collectors for building applications through hybrid nanofluids and vortex-inducing geometries
title_full Improving the thermal performance of flat-plate solar collectors for building applications through hybrid nanofluids and vortex-inducing geometries
title_fullStr Improving the thermal performance of flat-plate solar collectors for building applications through hybrid nanofluids and vortex-inducing geometries
title_full_unstemmed Improving the thermal performance of flat-plate solar collectors for building applications through hybrid nanofluids and vortex-inducing geometries
title_short Improving the thermal performance of flat-plate solar collectors for building applications through hybrid nanofluids and vortex-inducing geometries
title_sort improving the thermal performance of flat plate solar collectors for building applications through hybrid nanofluids and vortex inducing geometries
topic Entropy generation
Flat-plate solar collector
Hybrid nanofluid
Numerical study
Vortex generator
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25006379
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