Numerical Analysis of Heat Transfer in a Solar Collector Submitted the Flow of Nanofluid

Abstract

This work is based on a two-dimensional numerical simulation, to study the effects of various nanofluids (Al2O3, CuO, SiO2, and ZnO) on heat transfer performance along the rectangular channel mounted with two different ribbed: rectangular and triangular. The effects of this ribbed on heat transfer performance are evaluated with Reynolds number in the range from 5000 to 20,000 with a uniform heat flux of 10,000 W/m2 at upper and lower walls. The governing equation is based predicated on the continuity equation, momentum, and energy equations, which are solved by using the finite volume method. Numerical results are analyzed, such as the profiles of velocity, the factor coefficient, and average Nusselt number. In addition, the model studied is tested by comparing the literature and the results obtained that are in favorable agreement with those reported in literature. Moreover, the results show that the thermal performance is highly significant for the case of ribbed rectangular also with nanofluid SiO2–water in which shows the greatest improvement in heat transfer compared to other nanofluids. Finally, through ribbed channels, the average Nusselt number improved with increasing Reynolds number.