Numerical Analysis of a Parabolic Trough Collector Absorber with a Two Straight Tubes Exchanger

In this chapter, a numerical study using Ansys Software is carried out to evaluate the performances of a Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) receiver with Two Straight Tubes Exchanger (TSTE). Two configurations are analyzed: one with fluid circulation in both tubes in the same direction (TSTE-SD) and the other with fluid circulation in tubes in the opposite direction (TSTE-OD). Simulations are carried out for various mass flow rates and a constant inlet temperature of 26.85 °C. The efficiency reached a value of about 59% for the SD configuration and 58% for the OD configuration for a mass flow rate of 0.02 kg/s. The absorber temperature difference is decreased and the temperature distribution is improved using the TSTE-OD configuration compared with the TSTE-SD configuration. These results indicate that using the absorber with a TSTE is a promising way to enhance PTC system performance.