Thermodynamic Optimization of Hybrid Nanofluid Flow in Parabolic trough Solar Collectors for Solar-Powered Agricultural Machinery
C. B. Ogunlade
Department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Nigeria.
A. M. Obalalu
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria.
E. O. Fatunmbi *
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The efficiency of solar-powered farm machinery is often limited by inadequate heat transfer in conventional working fluids, reducing the thermal performance of parabolic trough solar collectors (PTSCs). Enhancing the thermophysical properties of the working fluid using a binary hybrid nanofluid (Cu + Al₂O₃) presents a promising solution for sustainable agricultural systems. Thus, this study investigates the thermodynamic behaviour of hybrid nanofluid flow within PTSCs, focusing on heat transfer enhancement, temperature distribution, and entropy generation. Governing equations for momentum, energy, and entropy were solved numerically using a spectral collocation approach under steady-state conditions. The results show that adding 4% hybrid nanoparticles increased the heat transfer rate by 52% and reduced entropy generation by 12%, indicating a more thermodynamically efficient process. Higher Reynolds numbers promoted uniform temperature distribution across the collector, contributing to overall system stability.
Keywords: Hybrid nanofluid flow, parabolic trough solar collectors, nanoparticle volume fraction, agricultural sustainability, spectral collocation approach