Review on Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors Systems Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

Abstract

Parabolic trough collectors are commonly

utilized to recover solar energy with solar

energy based on a single cylindrical

absorber tube. The conventional design of

the absorber tube is characterized by a

smooth surface. The heat transfer to fluid

from the smooth surface is less as the flow is

largely laminar. To augment heat transfer,

artificial roughness is incorporated which

disrupts the flow and makes it turbulent

and thus increases turbulent flow heat

transfer rate. Two different types of

artificial roughness are commonly utilized

for analysis i.e. C shape and V shape. The

analysis can be done using Computational

Fluid Dynamics in ANSYS CFX software

under steady-state conditions. This paper

provides a detailed description of parabolic

trough collectors for solar energy utilization

and their types. This survey will be useful

to show good growth in heat transfer rate

with the usage of artificial roughness.