advancing thermal efficiency in parabolic trough solar collectors implementing flow-induced turbulence

This study investigates thermal performance enhancements in parabolic trough solar collectors (ptsc) through the integration of innovative internal spiral fin designs within the absorber tube. numerical simulations were conducted to assess the impact of various cross-sectional fin shapes, including irregular rhombus, rectangular, and corrugated circular cross-sectional shapes, under turbulent flow conditions across a range of mass flow rates. results indicate that the introduction of a turbulence-inducing element significantly improves fluid mixing and increases the heat transfer coefficient by promoting fluid rotation and enhancing contact with the collector surface. among the configurations, the irregular rhombus cross-section model achieved the highest heat transfer coefficient due to its efficient flow mixing and reduction of the thermal boundary layer. additionally, the heat transfer coefficient was found to increase with inlet velocity, further supporting the role of mass flow rate in forced convective heat transfer enhancement. the inclusion of turbulence-inducing elements also led to an increase in outlet temperature and provided better thermal distribution along the flow path. overall, the findings highlight the potential of optimized fin geometries to boost ptsc thermal efficiency, presenting a promising approach for advancing solar thermal technologies with applications in sustainable energy production.