Developing Innovations in Parabolic Trough Collectors (PTCs) Based on Numerical Studies

Many numerical attempts have been carried out to examine the impacts of different parameters ranging from using nanofluids to inserts, porous media, and surface modification methods on the performance of parabolic trough collectors (PTCs). Furthermore, to overcome the costly nature of experimental investigations, numerical studies are an appropriate alternative for any parameter study to find the potential optimized conditions. Among solar systems, PTCs are a promising technology due to their wide operating temperature range and the variety of applications. They can be integrated into different applications, including cooling systems, desalination systems, industrial process heat (IPH), and concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. In this chapter, novel and innovative developments in PTCs based on numerical studies to have an enhanced performance are introduced and also the computer software tools used for numerical studies of PTCs are presented. In addition, the potential integration of PTCs with other systems is discussed in detail. Based on the discussion, the existing challenges and future directions for numerical studies are presented.