Experimental and numerical evaluation of the influence of a PCM-filled insert on the thermal performance of a spiral tube flat plate collector (SFPC)
摘要
The study examines the impact of a phase change material (PCM)-filled tube insert on the thermal efficiency of a spiral tube solar flat plate collector (SFPC). Experimental and numerical thermal analysis of SFPC was carried out using water as the working fluid. The experimental setup was designed to assess the thermal performance of SFPC under varying flow rates (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 LPM) and intensity levels (300, 400, 500, and 600 W m−2) at a fixed inclination angle of 45°. A 3D numerical model of SFPC was developed using Ansys Fluent 15.0, incorporating both scenarios with and without a PCM-filled insert. The implementation of a PCM-filled insert in SFPC resulted in a significant improvement in thermal performance. The findings indicated enhancements of 4.38%, 5.36%, and 10.63% in instantaneous efficiency using PCM-filled inserts at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 LPM flow rates, compared to SFPC without a PCM-filled insert in SFPC. A 16.81% rise in exergy efficiency and an 8.891% decrease in entropy generation were observed using a PCM-filled insert. In order to accurately capture the temperature and flow fields, the numerical analysis made use of the SST turbulence model. Without numerical simulation analysis, SFPC temperature patterns cannot be observed using an insert under precise operating conditions. The results indicate a maximum average deviation of 4.63% between the experimental and numerical findings. An insert in SFPC results in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 54.58 kg, which is 7.82% more than when the insert is not present, hence improving environmental safety. As part of the current investigation, the goal is to identify a collector design that is capable of harvesting solar energy by utilizing water rather than costly working fluids like nanofluid, hence reducing operational expenses.