Assessment of the design influence of the vortex generator on the performance of the solar vortex engine

Abstract

• Three different design configurations of the solar vortex engine are evaluated. • CFD simulation approach is used for the evaluation of the three SVE designs. • Vortex generator with transparent cover operates as a heat trap and enhances vortex. • Cone structure increases the air vorticity, temperature and buoyancy forces in the vortex. • A hole in the engine’s base produces high velocity with the least vortex stability. The vortex generator is an essential segment in the solar vortex engine (SVE). Its design could be modified to strengthen the generated air vortex and enhance the system's performance. This work aims to investigate the vortex generator design's influence on the SVE's performance. Three different vortex generator designs are studied employing three-dimensional CFD simulations. Experimental investigations have been utilised to support the CFD simulation. The considered designs are Case-1: basic design, Case-2: with a cone structure inside the arena and Case-3: with a hole at the bottom of the vortex generator. The cone structure increases the heat transfer area, increasing the vortex generator's air temperature and producing higher buoyancy forces for the flow field. Cases 1 and 2 produced the best vortex stability as the air vortex shape, pressure and vorticity distributions are uniform. The highest static pressure drop is achieved with the basic design. The basic design, Case-1, produces 1.0% and 5.0% higher static pressure drop than Case-2 and Case-3, respectively. The lower hole affected the air vortex stability negatively.