Achieving elevated thermal performance with novel ‘O’ rings eccentric spine as turbulators in solar parabolic trough collector

Abstract

The present study integrates the eccentric inserts in the absorber section of a parabolic trough collector to augment the thermal behaviour. To produce significant effect on the thermal performance, the effect of ‘O’ rings with the eccentric spine as turbulator and insert in the receiver tube with thickness of 4 mm and pitch length of 2d are experimentally analysed. The effects of parameters like thermal efficiency, heat transfer coefficient, and heat flow are evaluated, illustrated, and compared with those of a smooth tube. Empirical relations were used to validate and compare the performance parameters. The modified receiver tube with the eccentric insert exhibited improvement in the overall thermal efficiency and heat transfer coefficient to 10.93 and 28.08%, respectively. In addition, the proposed system with inserts exhibited maximum thermal enhancement index and efficiency of 1.078 and 72%, respectively, with 24.02% reduction in cost of heat gain produced and the carbon credits earned for the present system is seen to be 2.89, which is 11% more in comparison with a smooth absorber tube. © Akadémiai Kiadó Zrt 2025.