An overview on energy and exergy analysis of solar thermal collectors with passive performance enhancers

Abstract

The evaluations of Energy and Exergy are very useful for enhancing the performance and diminishing irreversibility of the solar thermal collectors respectively. The prime objective of the present investigation is to sort out a detailed article survey on the energy and exergy evaluation of different solar thermal collectors. The impacts of different heat transfer enhancers and geometrical parameters of solar thermal collector's receiver tube on energy and exergy efficiency have been introduced and examined. Moreover, a similar examination has been done to choose the best solar thermal collectors for the greatest energy and exergy effectiveness with negligible thermal losses. The literature from absorber coating shows that using black chrome and carbon coatings on the receiver plates of solar collectors has the potential to boost the collectors' thermal efficiency due to their high capacity. This study has also demonstrated that the utilization of hybrid nanofluids augmented the energy and exergy effectiveness fundamentally when contrasted to without hybrid nanofluids. The insertion of twisted tapes in the flow passage increases the rate of heat transfer by creating secondary flow which improves better mixing the fluid particles. The introduction of booster reflectors in the sides of the absorber plate reflects more sun rays on the collector surface. The use of phase change materials acts as an energy storage medium. It ensures the continuous run of the system. At last, this work will be valuable for the researchers taking research on energy and exergy investigations of solar thermal collectors.

Keywords

• Solar thermal collector
• Exergy analysis
• Thermal losses
• Nanofluids
• Performance enhancers