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In order to improve the performance of a solar collector in low heat transfer rate zones, a 3-D numerical study of the effects of partially moving wall sections and the use of a water nanofluid (CNT) in a tilted parallelepiped solar collector was performed. Equations governing the mixed convection phenomena occurring in the cavity are developed based on the 3-D potential-vorticity formulation and solved using the finite volume method. Two cases related to the direction of the moving surfaces are considered and compared to the base case (no driven walls). The results are presented in term of flow structures, temperature fields and local and average Nusselt numbers. The Richardson number is varied from 0.001 to 10 and the CNT volume fraction from 0 to 0.045. The results showed that for low Richardson values (less than 1), the motion direction of the moving surfaces has no significant effect on heat transfer rates and becomes effective for higher values. The highest rates of heat transfer are found for high Richardson values and CNT volume fractions, while the enhancement ratio (compared to the base case) occurs for low Richardson values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A numerical study of the 3-D double-diffusive natural convection in an inclined solar distiller was established. The flow is considered laminar and caused by the interaction of thermal energy and the chemical species diffusions. The governing equations of the problem, are formulated using vector potential-vorticity formalism in its 3-D form, then solved by the finite volumes method. The Rayleigh number is fixed at Ra = 105 and effects of the buoyancy ratio and inclination are studied for opposed temperature and concentration gradients. The main purpose of the study is to find the optimum inclination angle of the distiller which promotes the maximum mass and heat transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]