Effect of conjugate heat transfer in a wavy solar power plant with metallic porous blocks

What is it about?

In the current study, forced convective conjugate heat transfer of non-Newtonian fluids has been examined in a wavy solar power plant with integrated metallic porous blocks. The associated flow and temperature fields were estimated numerically using the finite-element method-based solver employing the Darcy-Brinkmann-Forchheimer framework. Also, the results of existing theoretical and experimental studies are employed to validate the current numerical model. The flow field, heat lines, average Nusselt number, and thermo-hydraulic performance factor were thoroughly investigated by varying the flow behaviour index, Darcy number, and thermal conductivity ratio of the solid to fluid. As explored in the current endeavour, fluid rheology and permeability of the porous block modulate the flow field which in turn improves the heat transfer rate as well as performance factor. For applications involving heat exchange in solar heating, the current findings will be beneficial.

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Why is it important?

It is important for designing the high performance solar power plant.