Thermal performance evaluation of a parabolic trough collector receiver: A numerical study of three heat exchanger configurations
In this study, a numerical investigation of the performance of a parabolic trough collector receiver is conducted using ANSYS Fluent software. Three receiver configurations (with U-tube, Helical tube, and UU-tube heat exchangers) are studied for different flow rates and inlet temperatures. The maxim...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Case Studies in Thermal Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25005635 |
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| author | Ayoub Oumachtaq Mohammed Halimi Malika Ouhadou Youssef El Hassouani Mohamed Hajjaj Choukri Messaoudi |
| author_facet | Ayoub Oumachtaq Mohammed Halimi Malika Ouhadou Youssef El Hassouani Mohamed Hajjaj Choukri Messaoudi |
| author_sort | Ayoub Oumachtaq |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, a numerical investigation of the performance of a parabolic trough collector receiver is conducted using ANSYS Fluent software. Three receiver configurations (with U-tube, Helical tube, and UU-tube heat exchangers) are studied for different flow rates and inlet temperatures. The maximum outlet temperature is recorded for the lowest flow rate and inlet temperature. Thus, the helical configuration shows an outlet temperature enhancement of 5.03 % compared to the UU configuration and 5.43 % compared to the U configuration. The highest efficiencies of 92.1 %, 84.7 %, and 74.5 % are recorded for the helical, UU, and the U configurations, respectively, at high flow rate and low inlet temperature. The temperature difference and distribution within the receiver are examined at three specific cross-sections. For the helical configuration, reductions in the transverse temperature gap of 77.34 % and 66.91 %, compared to the U-tube and UU-tube, respectively, are reported at the lowest flow rate. However, the helical configuration exhibits the highest overall receiver temperature gap, measuring 12.59 % and 21.57 % higher than those of the U and UU configurations, respectively. The investigated receiver configurations provide an effective approach for enhancing the thermal performance of PTC systems, leading to more efficient and durable designs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-da06be9942a84a92b233bf5d8655482e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2214-157X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Studies in Thermal Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-da06be9942a84a92b233bf5d8655482e2025-08-20T03:49:33ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-08-017210630310.1016/j.csite.2025.106303Thermal performance evaluation of a parabolic trough collector receiver: A numerical study of three heat exchanger configurationsAyoub Oumachtaq0Mohammed Halimi1Malika Ouhadou2Youssef El Hassouani3Mohamed Hajjaj4Choukri Messaoudi5OTEA Team, Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, Materials and Sustainable Energy, Department of Engineering Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, BP 509, Boutalamine, 52000, Errachidia, Morocco; Corresponding author.OTEA Team, Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, Materials and Sustainable Energy, Department of Engineering Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, BP 509, Boutalamine, 52000, Errachidia, MoroccoOTEA Team, Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, Materials and Sustainable Energy, Department of Engineering Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, BP 509, Boutalamine, 52000, Errachidia, MoroccoENIM Team, Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, Materials and Sustainable Energy, Department of Engineering Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, BP 509, Boutalamine, 52000, Errachidia, MoroccoLGEMS, Department of Physics, National School of Applied Sciences, Ibn Zohr University Agadir, MoroccoOTEA Team, Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, Materials and Sustainable Energy, Department of Engineering Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, BP 509, Boutalamine, 52000, Errachidia, MoroccoIn this study, a numerical investigation of the performance of a parabolic trough collector receiver is conducted using ANSYS Fluent software. Three receiver configurations (with U-tube, Helical tube, and UU-tube heat exchangers) are studied for different flow rates and inlet temperatures. The maximum outlet temperature is recorded for the lowest flow rate and inlet temperature. Thus, the helical configuration shows an outlet temperature enhancement of 5.03 % compared to the UU configuration and 5.43 % compared to the U configuration. The highest efficiencies of 92.1 %, 84.7 %, and 74.5 % are recorded for the helical, UU, and the U configurations, respectively, at high flow rate and low inlet temperature. The temperature difference and distribution within the receiver are examined at three specific cross-sections. For the helical configuration, reductions in the transverse temperature gap of 77.34 % and 66.91 %, compared to the U-tube and UU-tube, respectively, are reported at the lowest flow rate. However, the helical configuration exhibits the highest overall receiver temperature gap, measuring 12.59 % and 21.57 % higher than those of the U and UU configurations, respectively. The investigated receiver configurations provide an effective approach for enhancing the thermal performance of PTC systems, leading to more efficient and durable designs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25005635Parabolic trough collectorReceiverU-tubeHelical tubeUU-tubeTemperature difference |
| spellingShingle | Ayoub Oumachtaq Mohammed Halimi Malika Ouhadou Youssef El Hassouani Mohamed Hajjaj Choukri Messaoudi Thermal performance evaluation of a parabolic trough collector receiver: A numerical study of three heat exchanger configurations Case Studies in Thermal Engineering Parabolic trough collector Receiver U-tube Helical tube UU-tube Temperature difference |
| title | Thermal performance evaluation of a parabolic trough collector receiver: A numerical study of three heat exchanger configurations |
| title_full | Thermal performance evaluation of a parabolic trough collector receiver: A numerical study of three heat exchanger configurations |
| title_fullStr | Thermal performance evaluation of a parabolic trough collector receiver: A numerical study of three heat exchanger configurations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thermal performance evaluation of a parabolic trough collector receiver: A numerical study of three heat exchanger configurations |
| title_short | Thermal performance evaluation of a parabolic trough collector receiver: A numerical study of three heat exchanger configurations |
| title_sort | thermal performance evaluation of a parabolic trough collector receiver a numerical study of three heat exchanger configurations |
| topic | Parabolic trough collector Receiver U-tube Helical tube UU-tube Temperature difference |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25005635 |
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