The investigation of Thermal Stress and Steam Generation by a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector System Containing Various Nanofluids for the specific climatic conditions

Mahmoudi, Meysam; Fanaee, Sayyed Aboozar

doi:10.22034/joae.2025.516517.1279

The investigation of Thermal Stress and Steam Generation by a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector System Containing Various Nanofluids for the specific climatic conditions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

meysam mahmoudi ¹

Sayyed Aboozar Fanaee ²

¹ PhD Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran

² Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran

10.22034/joae.2025.516517.1279

Abstract

Parabolic solar thermal collectors efficiently harness high-temperature solar energy, and their performance can be significantly enhanced by using nanofluids as heat absorbers. This study numerically evaluates the thermal performance of a steel absorber tube in a parabolic solar thermal collector using both hybrid and mono nanofluids under the climatic conditions of Iranshahr, Sistan and Baluchestan province, with the goal of steam generation. Results show that hybrid nanofluids, particularly in early summer, create a greater temperature difference and increase steam production. The volumetric heat generation rate of the hybrid nanofluid improved by 16.2% and 19.3% compared to Silitrom800-oil aluminum and water-copper nanofluids, respectively. Over the summer months, the steam production rate from the hybrid nanofluid increased by an average of 20% compared to mono nanofluids. Furthermore, increasing the nanofluid inlet temperature to 130 K reduced thermal stress on the steel absorber tube by approximately 25%. These findings demonstrate the potential of hybrid nanofluids to improve the performance and durability of solar thermal collectors.

Keywords

Absorber Tube

Hybrid Nano-fluid

Solar Collector

Steam Generation

Thermal Stress

Subjects