Numerical investigation of hydrothermal efficiency of a parabolic dish solar collector filled with oil based hybrid nanofluid

Background: Parabolic Dish Solar Collector (PDSC) is a type of solar collector that heats a heat transfer fluid by concentrating sunlight on an absorber chamber and then passing a fluid stream through the absorber. Due to their extensive range of applications, enhancing their efficiency is very essential. Present study investigates the hydrothermal efficiency enhancement of a semi-cone parabolic dish solar collector filled with an oil based hybrid nanofluid. Method: The studied geometry is a semi-cone shape parabolic dish solar collector equipped with smooth or corrugated absorber chamber. Two different heat fluxes are applied on absorber chamber and EulerianEulerian two-phase model is employed for numerical simulation. The geometrical parameters of PDSC and corrugated plate are analyzed at various nanoparticles concentrations. Findings: According to result, utilization of nanofluid significantly augments the thermal performance of system. The exergy analysis shows that the growing of nanoparticles amount increases the convection coefficient and pressure loss, but it leads to higher exergy efficiency. Furthermore, the most optimum configuration PDSC is introduced. (c) 2021 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.