Using phase change materials (PCMs) in energy storage systems provides various advantages such as energy storage at a nearly constant temperature and higher energy density. In this study, we aimed to conduct a numerical simulation for augmenting a PCM’s melting performance within multiple tubes, including branched fins. The suspension contained Al₂O₃/n-octadecane paraffin, and four cases were considered based on a number of heated fins. A numerical algorithm based on the finite element method (FEM) was applied to solve the dimensionless governing system. The average liquid fraction was computed over the considered flow area. The key parameters are the time parameter ($100 \le t\le 600 \mathrm{s})$ and the nanoparticles’ volume fraction ($0\%\le \phi \le 8\%)$. The major outcomes revealed that the flow structures, the irreversibility of the system, and the melting process can be controlled by increasing/decreasing number of the heated fins. Additionally, case four, in which eight heated fins were considered, produced the largest average liquid fraction values.

Parabolic trough collectors (PTC) are one of the most established solar concentrating systems which have been used in a wide variety of applications. Enhancing their performance is critical to establish them as a viable technology. Internal obstacles are an intriguing way for improving the collector’s performance. However, the usage of obstacles results in increasing pressure loss. The purpose of this research is to numerically explore the impact of introducing obstacles to the receiver tube of a parabolic trough collector on heat transmission in PTCs and its overall thermal performance. The first part analyzed the effects of geometrical parameters, orientation angle (α = 45°, 90° or 135°), and spacing of obstacles (P/D = 1, 2, or 3) on the fluid motion, heat transfer, and performance. Then, a non-uniform heat flow was applied to the absorber’s outer surface. The effects of nanoparticles type, temperature profile, and heat transfer performance of three different nanofluids (Cu/thermal oil, Al₂O₃/thermal oil, andTiO₂/thermal oil) were studied in the second part. The simulation results show that, the friction factor increased when P/D decreases, and that the absorber tube with obstacles discs (α = 90°) and P/D = 2 achieved the best thermal performance. Additionally, increasing the concentration of solid nanoparticles in thermal oil improves heat transmission, and the Cu nanofluid has the greatest Nusselt number.

This work investigates the performance of a conventional steam power plant retrofitted with a solar-assisted regenerative system using Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors (PTC). The solar collectors were used to compensate for the effect of removing Low-Pressure (LP) turbine extractions without changing other elements of a 300 MW power plant unit during peak load operations. The steam power plant, located in Kuwait, receives high levels of solar irradiation. Modeling of the solar-assisted regenerative system using PTC is simulated for Kuwait’s weather conditions. Results of the system analysis show that removing the LP turbine extractions enhanced the performance of the steam power plant by 9.8 MW, with an optimum PTC aperture area equal to 25,850 m². A techno-economic analysis was used to estimate the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). Compared to an equivalent photovoltaic solar plant, the optimum aperture area and LCOE for the PTC solar plant were found to be less by 45% and 44%, respectively. When compared to an equivalent conventional steam turbine, the solar-assisted steam power plant decreased cost by 56% over the lifecycle of 25-years.