Nanofluid Thermal Enhancement in Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors

Parabolic trough solar collectors (PTSCs) form a cornerstone of concentrated solar power systems, where sunlight is focused onto a receiver tube carrying a heat transfer fluid. Incorporating nanoparticles into conventional fluids yields nanofluids with superior thermophysical properties, notably higher thermal conductivity and enhanced convective heat transfer coefficients. These improvements can translate into appreciable gains in thermal efficiency, reduced entropy generation and raised working temperatures, thereby boosting overall exergy output. Experimental and computational studies have demonstrated efficiency enhancements ranging from single‐digit to over 30 percent, depending on nanoparticle type, volume fraction and flow regime. Major challenges remain in maintaining long‐term colloidal stability, managing viscosity‐induced pressure drops and minimising additional pumping power. Advances in hybrid nanoparticle formulations, surface functionalisation and tailored receiver designs have begun to address these obstacles, paving the way for more reliable and cost‐effective deployment at utility scale. The global significance of this research lies in its potential to lower the levelised cost of solar thermal energy and to support decarbonisation of industrial heat processes.

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Nanofluid Thermal Enhancement in Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors publication trend

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Technical terms

Nanofluid: A suspension of nanoparticles in a base fluid, engineered to enhance properties such as thermal conductivity and convective heat transfer.

Parabolic trough solar collector: A solar concentrator that uses a parabolic reflector to focus incident sunlight onto a receiver tube carrying a working fluid.

Thermal conductivity: A measure of a material’s ability to conduct heat.

Nusselt number: A dimensionless parameter indicating the ratio of convective to conductive heat transfer across a fluid boundary layer.

Exergy efficiency: The fraction of available energy converted into useful work, accounting for irreversibilities.

Heat transfer coefficient: A parameter quantifying the rate of convective heat transfer between a fluid and a surface.

References

1. A review of the use of nanofluids as heat-transfer fluids in parabolic-trough collectors. Applied Thermal Engineering (2022).
2. Thermal performance enhancement of nanofluids based parabolic trough solar collector (NPTSC) for sustainable environment. Alexandria Engineering Journal (2022).
3. Recent advances and developments of the application of hybrid nanofluids in parabolic solar collector energy systems and guidelines for future prospects. Journal of Engineering Research (2024).