Abstract
This research is mainly aimed at investigating the numerical modeling of thermal-hydraulic and exergy efficiencies of parabolic trough solar collectors (P-SCs) filled with magnetic hybrid nanofluid. The k-epsilon turbulence, S2S, and mixture models were used to simulate the turbulence equations, radiation, and two-phase nanofluid, respectively. The experiments were run using magnetic nanofluid in Reynolds numbers of 5000-20 000, the volume fractions of 1%-3%, and the ratios of pitch (ROPs) of 1, 2, and 3 of the combined turbulator. According to the results, there is a significant increase in average Nusselt number (Nu) and pressure drop (Delta P) with increasing Reynolds number, nano-additive concentration, and ROP. Moreover, the use of the hybrid magnetic turbulator and hybrid nanofluid increased the thermal performance of the P-SC. It was also found that the Reynolds number of 20 000 and volume fraction of 3% of nanoparticles resulted in the optimal exergy efficiency mode in using a hybrid turbulator.