Computational analysis to examine the role of nanoparticle shape on operative usage of solar energy.

In thermal power and manufacturing processes, solar energy utilization has grown extensively. This work investigates the heat diffusion characteristics of an unsteady Oldroyd-B hybrid nano liquid flow across an expanding cylinder. A constant magnetic field is applied in the radial path in the presence of radiant heating, generation, or sinks, and Cattaneo-Christov (CC) heat flow. Hybrid nano liquid composed of two distinct nanoparticles (CoFe 2 O 4 and Fe 3 O 4) embedded in ethylene glycol as the primary fluid. A mathematical model was established and reconstructed into a nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) system, utilizing the proper likeness conversion. The Matlab inbuilt bvp5c scheme determines the problem's numerical solution. We observed the instabilities in the flow and thermal area and also the local Nusselt number impacted by the pertinent dimensionless characteristics. The findings are addressed graphically and tabularly for several nanoparticle shapes (spherical, brick, and platelet). It has been discovered that spherical shapes are found to have a faster heat conduction rate than brick and platelet nanoparticle shapes for the considered flow case. While unsteadiness parameters tend to increase the temperature field, the augmentation of the temperature relaxation factor reduces the energy profile. • Effective solar energy usage in Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors (PTSC). • Discrete outcomes for spherical, brick, and platelet-shaped nanoparticles. • Spherical-shaped ferro particles showed better heat transfer rates than platelet and brick-shaped particles. • Thermal radiation improves heat transfer in hybrid nano-liquid with platelet-shaped nanoparticles. • The coaxial cylinders can be employed as a central heat pipe for the PTSC's active thermal transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]