Modeling and Efficiency Analysis of an Immersed Heat Exchanger for Solar-Powered Industrial Heat Processes: A Case Study on Wool Washing

Efficient water heating is essential for wool washing processes, which demand temperatures above 70°C. To meet this requirement sustainably, a parabolic trough solar concentrator system was proposed as an alternative to conventional natural gas systems. The design centers on a water pool constructed from bricks reinforced with an internal steel layer, enhancing heat exchange efficiency. Also, Various synthetic oils were analyzed as heat transfer fluids (HTFs) within an immersed heat exchanger, such as Thermia B oil, Heat transfer oil 32, Biphasic oil, and Therminol vp1 oil Nu-merical simulations have been done using ANSYS CFX software with the k-ε turbulence model, to evaluate the thermal performance and temperature distribution. Results demonstrate the superior efficiency of the solar-powered system, with the steel-reinforced pool achieving optimal water temperatures between 78°C and 85°C, exceeding the required threshold for industrial wool washing. Among various synthetic oils analyzed, Thermia B emerged as the most effective heat transfer fluid, maintaining water temperatures in the range of 75°C to 85°C. This superior thermal performance is attributed to its high thermal conductivity and reduced heat loss, ensuring con-sistent and optimal heat distribution for the wool washing process.