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Evaluation of local heat transfer and friction factors in a U-type compound parabolic collector operating as a thermosyphon
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613861434097664 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Simon, Sarath Titus |
| author2 | Meyer, J. P. |
| author_browse | Meyer, J. P. Simon, Sarath Titus |
| author_facet | Meyer, J. P. Simon, Sarath Titus |
| author_sort | Simon, Sarath Titus |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135846 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:42:51.481Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135846 Evaluation of local heat transfer and friction factors in a U-type compound parabolic collector operating as a thermosyphon Simon, Sarath Titus Meyer, J. P. Owen, M. T. F. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. Simon, S. T. 2026. Evaluation of local heat transfer and friction factors in a U-type compound parabolic collector operating as a thermosyphon. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/495474c6-2f33-429b-b215-39dc88ccc1e8 U-type external compound parabolic concentrators (XCPCs) are non-imaging solar collectors for low- to medium-temperature applications (60°C to 300°C). The XCPC collector comprises an aluminium compound parabolic reflector and an evacuated tube receiver with a direct flow U-shaped absorber tube. Although extensive research in the literature has focused on reflector designs and optical components, the heat transfer characteristics and flow patterns within the absorber tube have not been thoroughly investigated. The flow dynamics inside the absorber tube are unique due to various boundary conditions. These include a non-uniform heat flux around the tube, regions of secondary and developing flow, and recirculation flows at the inlet, outlet, and through multiple bends. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the heat transfer coefficients and friction factors in an XCPC absorber tube operating as a thermosyphon. The local Nusselt numbers and local friction factors were obtained numerically. It was found that the heat transfer coefficient and friction factors vary significantly downstream of the tube inlet and alter near the U-bend of the absorber tube. Mixed convection was the primary force along the straight sections of the absorber tube, rather than forced convection as initially assumed in the literature. The study emphasises how the magnitude of heat flux and the geometry of the absorber tube influence the internal hydrodynamic and thermal performance in an XCPC collector. Masters 2026-04-13T10:08:40Z 2026-04-13T10:08:40Z 2026-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135846 en Stellenbosch University 74 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Simon, Sarath Titus Evaluation of local heat transfer and friction factors in a U-type compound parabolic collector operating as a thermosyphon |
| title | Evaluation of local heat transfer and friction factors in a U-type compound parabolic collector operating as a thermosyphon |
| title_full | Evaluation of local heat transfer and friction factors in a U-type compound parabolic collector operating as a thermosyphon |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of local heat transfer and friction factors in a U-type compound parabolic collector operating as a thermosyphon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of local heat transfer and friction factors in a U-type compound parabolic collector operating as a thermosyphon |
| title_short | Evaluation of local heat transfer and friction factors in a U-type compound parabolic collector operating as a thermosyphon |
| title_sort | evaluation of local heat transfer and friction factors in a u type compound parabolic collector operating as a thermosyphon |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135846 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT simonsarathtitus evaluationoflocalheattransferandfrictionfactorsinautypecompoundparaboliccollectoroperatingasathermosyphon |