Thermo fluid dynamics optimisation of tapered helically-coiled solar thermal collectors

Stefano Landini, Tadhg O'Donovan, Faisal Ghani

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

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Abstract

This study investigated the effect of the absorber geometry on the heat transfer performance of a novel low-cost flat-packable tapered helically-coiled solar thermal collector under laminar flow conditions. Importantly, the potential heat transfer enhancement by secondary Dean flows was evaluated. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed and validated with experimental data found in the literature. Overall results show that the Nusselt number increases with the Helical number along the tube. However, this difference is only appreciable close to the end of the tube but quite negligible. The collector geometry should therefore be optimised in terms of optical efficiency to maximise the intercepted solar irradiance on the absorber surface.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 6 Apr 2022
Event17th UK Heat Transfer Conference - Manchester, United Kingdom
Duration: 4 Apr 20226 Apr 2022

Conference

Conference17th UK Heat Transfer Conference
Abbreviated titleUKHTC2021
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityManchester
Period4/04/226/04/22

Keywords

  • Solar energy
  • Solar collector simulation
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Heat transfer enhancement
  • Heat transfer
  • experimental
  • Design optimization

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