Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering

Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering

Numerical Investigation of the Thermal Performance of a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector Using Twisted Tapes Inside the Absorber Tube

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
ali masoud abadi arani 1
Mojtaba Moravej 1
nadereh tabrizi 2
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2 Agricultural Engineering Research Department, West Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Urmia, Iran
10.22060/mej.2026.25334.7940
Abstract
Solar energy, as one of the most promising clean energy sources, plays a pivotal role in advancing sustainable development. Among the various solar thermal technologies, parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) are considered one of the most practical and efficient solutions for medium-temperature heat applications. In this study, the thermal performance of a parabolic trough solar collector was comprehensively analyzed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The effects of key operational and geometric parameters including absorber tube rotational speed (10 and 15 rad/s), tube material (copper, brass, and nickel), and wall thickness (1.45–1.85 mm) were systematically examined in relation to the collector’s hydrodynamic and thermal behavior.The findings demonstrated that the rotation of the absorber tube predominantly influences the fluid layers adjacent to the wall. Increasing the rotational speed enhanced flow mixing, thereby improving heat transfer and overall thermal performance. Among the tested materials, the copper tube exhibited the highest thermal efficiency and outlet temperature under all operating conditions, owing to its superior thermal conductivity. Moreover, increasing the wall thickness led to a noticeable decline in heat transfer rate due to higher thermal resistance. This reduction was more significant for the nickel tube (25%) compared with the copper tube (7.7%). Overall, the study provides clear design guidelines and optimization insights for improving the efficiency and reliability of parabolic trough solar collectors.
Keywords
Parabolic Trough Collector
Twisted Strip
CFD Simulation
Nanofluid
Thermal Efficiency
Subjects
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Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Volume 57, Issue 11
February 2026
Pages 1433-1454