Numerical Comparison of the Effect of Water-Based Nanofluid on the Performance of a Parabolic Solar Collector
Keywords:
Nanofluids, Parabolic Solar Collector, Heat Transfer, Numerical Simulation, CFDAbstract
This study presents a comprehensive numerical analysis of the thermal performance enhancement achieved by incorporating water-based nanofluids into parabolic solar collector systems. The nanofluids were formulated by dispersing titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles into deionized water at defined volume fractions. Numerical simulations were conducted using the finite volume method (FVM) on a three-dimensional parabolic trough collector, employing a structured mesh composed of 70 radial and 2000 axial nodes. Boundary conditions included an inlet temperature of 25°C, incident solar radiation of 1000 W/m², and a natural convection coefficient of 6.43 W/m²K. The results demonstrate that the incorporation of TiO₂ at a 0.03% volume fraction led to an enhancement in outlet temperature and thermal efficiency of up to 12% compared to the base fluid. Although a marginal increase in viscosity was observed, the nanofluid yielded a more uniform thermal profile and improved convective heat transfer. Parametric studies further revealed a direct linear relationship between flow rate and thermal output, along with a saturation behavior in thermal conductivity at elevated nanoparticle concentrations. Overall, the findings substantiate the efficacy of TiO₂ and Al₂O₃ enhanced nanofluids in enhancing the thermal performance of parabolic solar collectors and provide valuable insights for optimizing next-generation solar thermal energy systems.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammet Kaan Yesilyurt, Mansur Mustafaoğlu
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