Thermal Performance Enhancement Using Absorber Tube with Inner Helical Axial Fins in a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector

In the present work, a parabolic trough solar (PTC) collector with inner helical axial fins as swirl generator or turbulator is considered and analyzed numerically. The three-dimensional numerical simulations have been done by finite volume method (FVM) using commercial CFD code, ANSYS FLUENT 18.2. spatial discretization of mass, momentum, energy equations, turbulence kinetic has obtained second-order upwind scheme. To compute gradients, Green-Gauss cell-based employed. This work consists two sections where, first, four various geometries are appraised, in following, selected schematic from previous part selected, pitches including 250, 500, 750 1000 mm studied. All results utilizing FVM. Results show that thermal performance improvement 23.1% could be achieved one proposed innovative collectors compare to simple one. Additionally, minimum maximum (compare case without fins) belong P = 250 14.1% and, 21.53%, respectively.