Performance Comparison of Different Flat Plate Solar Collectors by Means of the Entropy Generation Rate Using Computational Fluid Dynamics
In this work, a numerical analysis of three different flat plate solar collectors was conducted using their entropy generation rates. Specifically, the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique was used to compare the detailed performance of conventional and zigzag tube geometries of flat plate s...
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Entropy |
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| author | J. J. Ramírez-Minguela V. H. Rangel-Hernández J. A. Alfaro-Ayala F. Elizalde-Blancas B. Ruiz-Camacho O. A. López-Núñez C. E. Alvarado-Rodríguez |
| author_facet | J. J. Ramírez-Minguela V. H. Rangel-Hernández J. A. Alfaro-Ayala F. Elizalde-Blancas B. Ruiz-Camacho O. A. López-Núñez C. E. Alvarado-Rodríguez |
| author_sort | J. J. Ramírez-Minguela |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this work, a numerical analysis of three different flat plate solar collectors was conducted using their entropy generation rates. Specifically, the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique was used to compare the detailed performance of conventional and zigzag tube geometries of flat plate solar collectors (FPCs) in terms of their entropy generation rates. The effects of fluid viscosity, heat transfer, and heat loss of the flat plate solar collectors were considered for the local and global entropy generation rate analyses. Variations on the inlet volumetric flow rate of the FPCs from 1.0 to 9.0 L/min were simulated under the average solar radiation for one year in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. The results illustrate and discuss the temperatures, pressures, and global entropy generation rates for volumetric flow variations. The velocity, temperature, and pressure distributions and the maps of the local entropy generation rates inside the collectors are presented and analyzed for the case with a flow rate of 3.0 L/min. These results demonstrate that the zigzag geometries achieved higher outlet temperatures and greater entropy generation rates than the conventional geometry for all the volumetric flow rates considered. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:03:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7abb3cbe14114d6e9d879a8646dfaa6c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1099-4300 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:03:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Entropy |
| spelling | doaj.art-7abb3cbe14114d6e9d879a8646dfaa6c2023-11-17T19:08:40ZengMDPI AGEntropy1099-43002023-04-0125462110.3390/e25040621Performance Comparison of Different Flat Plate Solar Collectors by Means of the Entropy Generation Rate Using Computational Fluid DynamicsJ. J. Ramírez-Minguela0V. H. Rangel-Hernández1J. A. Alfaro-Ayala2F. Elizalde-Blancas3B. Ruiz-Camacho4O. A. López-Núñez5C. E. Alvarado-Rodríguez6Department of Chemical Engineering, Division of Natural and Exact Sciences, University of Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, MexicoDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Division, Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, University of Guanajuato, Salamanca 36885, MexicoDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Division of Natural and Exact Sciences, University of Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, MexicoDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Division, Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, University of Guanajuato, Salamanca 36885, MexicoDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Division of Natural and Exact Sciences, University of Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, MexicoFacultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexicali 21280, MexicoDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Division of Natural and Exact Sciences, University of Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, MexicoIn this work, a numerical analysis of three different flat plate solar collectors was conducted using their entropy generation rates. Specifically, the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique was used to compare the detailed performance of conventional and zigzag tube geometries of flat plate solar collectors (FPCs) in terms of their entropy generation rates. The effects of fluid viscosity, heat transfer, and heat loss of the flat plate solar collectors were considered for the local and global entropy generation rate analyses. Variations on the inlet volumetric flow rate of the FPCs from 1.0 to 9.0 L/min were simulated under the average solar radiation for one year in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. The results illustrate and discuss the temperatures, pressures, and global entropy generation rates for volumetric flow variations. The velocity, temperature, and pressure distributions and the maps of the local entropy generation rates inside the collectors are presented and analyzed for the case with a flow rate of 3.0 L/min. These results demonstrate that the zigzag geometries achieved higher outlet temperatures and greater entropy generation rates than the conventional geometry for all the volumetric flow rates considered.https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/25/4/621CFDzigzag geometriesconventional geometryentropy generation analysisFPCs |
| spellingShingle | J. J. Ramírez-Minguela V. H. Rangel-Hernández J. A. Alfaro-Ayala F. Elizalde-Blancas B. Ruiz-Camacho O. A. López-Núñez C. E. Alvarado-Rodríguez Performance Comparison of Different Flat Plate Solar Collectors by Means of the Entropy Generation Rate Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Entropy CFD zigzag geometries conventional geometry entropy generation analysis FPCs |
| title | Performance Comparison of Different Flat Plate Solar Collectors by Means of the Entropy Generation Rate Using Computational Fluid Dynamics |
| title_full | Performance Comparison of Different Flat Plate Solar Collectors by Means of the Entropy Generation Rate Using Computational Fluid Dynamics |
| title_fullStr | Performance Comparison of Different Flat Plate Solar Collectors by Means of the Entropy Generation Rate Using Computational Fluid Dynamics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Performance Comparison of Different Flat Plate Solar Collectors by Means of the Entropy Generation Rate Using Computational Fluid Dynamics |
| title_short | Performance Comparison of Different Flat Plate Solar Collectors by Means of the Entropy Generation Rate Using Computational Fluid Dynamics |
| title_sort | performance comparison of different flat plate solar collectors by means of the entropy generation rate using computational fluid dynamics |
| topic | CFD zigzag geometries conventional geometry entropy generation analysis FPCs |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/25/4/621 |
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