Abstract
Solar energy is increasingly becoming a prominent renewable energy source due to its abundant availability and low environmental impact. Solar collectors play a vital role in harnessing solar energy for various applications such as heating, electricity generation, and desalination. However, optimizing the thermal performance of solar collectors remains a significant challenge. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has emerged as a powerful tool for designing and analyzing solar collectors, offering insights into complex fluid flow and heat transfer phenomena. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art methodologies for optimizing the thermal performance of solar collectors using CFD-based design and analysis techniques. Various aspects including collector geometry, absorber plate design, fluid flow patterns, and heat transfer mechanisms are discussed. Additionally, recent advancements in CFD simulations, optimization algorithms, and validation methodologies are exp