Heat transfer fluids in parabolic trough collector (PTC) : A review study

Abstract

A solar thermal collector is a heat collector that absorbs heat via sunlight. It is a device that turns the thermal energy in sunshine or solar radiation into a useful and storable form. This energy is conveyed via electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths ranging from infrared (long) to ultraviolet (short). Solar energy is one of the cleanest and most versatile renewable energy sources when compared to other renewable energy sources. Solar trough collectors (PTC), Compound Parabolic Collectors (CPC), Linear Fresnel Collectors (LFC), Solar Towers, and Solar Dish Collectors are all types of solar concentrator systems. One of the most common types of solar concentrators is the parabolic trough collector (PTC). Working fluids, also known as heat transfer fluids (HTFs), are a crucial component of (PTC) that will be investigated. Water, thermal oil, molten salts, and gases are just a few of the working fluids used in the parabolic trough collector, all of which types operate in a temperature range. This research evaluates thermal performance of a parabolic trough collector by employing different heat transfer fluids (HTFs) at a temperature range up to 823 K under various operating conditions. The fundamental physical parameters, such as specific heat, density, viscosity, and thermal conductivity of working fluids (HTFs) and their output temperatures, thermal efficiency, advantages, disadvantages, and cost of the working fluids are also presented. After comparing the various working fluids which are used in parabolic trough collectors (PTC), it is found that Liquid Sodium is the most reliable heat transfer fluid (HTF) based on number of factors, including useful energy, thermal efficiency, low cost, high temperature operation range, and physical qualities in operation. Liquid sodium provides good thermal performance factors, including useful energy, thermal efficiency, low cost, and a high temperature operation range.