Effect of symmetrical and asymmetrical structures of transverse tube on heat transfer performance of nanofluids in a solar collector system

Abstract

AbstractIn an effort to enhance the heat transfer performance of solar collectors, this paper proposed to replace the smooth tube with symmetrical and asymmetrical transversely corrugated tubes, and to couple with SiO2‐H2O nanofluids for heat transfer of solar collectors. Effects of nanofluids mass fraction (w = .0%, .1%, .3%, and .5%), Reynolds number (3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, and 7000), and groove radius (1.5, 2, and 2.5 mm) on the flow and heat transfer properties of nanofluids in solar collectors were studied. The comprehensive evaluation index was used to consider the heat transfer property and flow resistance of fluid flow at the same time. Results showed that with the augment of nanofluids mass fraction, Reynolds number, and groove radius, the heat transfer enhancement performance of the collector becomes better. Among them, when the Reynolds number is 4000, the asymmetric transversely corrugated tube with a nanofluids mass fraction of .5% and a groove depth of 2.5 mm has the best comprehensive flow and heat transfer performance, and the comprehensive evaluation index can reach 1.62. The study results in this paper are beneficial to the coupling of nanofluids and transversely corrugated tubes and their application in the domain of enhanced heat transfer of solar collectors.