Influence of using innovative turbulators on the exergy and energy efficacy of flat plate solar collector with DWCNTs-TiO2/water nanofluid

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of using turbulators with innovative geometrie (TIG) and DWCNTs-TiO2/water hybrid nanofluid (HNF) on thermal–hydraulic performance, exergy and energy efficacies of flat plate solar collector (FPSC) using a mixed two-phase model (TPM). Finite volume technique (FVT), SIMLPLEC algorithm and FLUENT software are used. The numerical study is performed for nano-additives concentrations (ϕ) of 1 to 3%, Reynolds numbers (Re) from 7000 to 28000, and PR of 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the proposed TIG in turbulent flow regime. The results show that the average Nusselt number (Nuave) increases by augmenting the Re and ϕ. In addition, at Re = 28,000 and ϕ = 3%, the installation of TIG with PR = 4 within the solar collector (SC) increases the Nuave by 63.46%. In the case of ϕ = 3% and by augmenting the Re from 7000 to 28000, energy and exergy efficacies increase by 22.19% and 23.26% for PR = 4 and PR = 1, respectively.