An Evaluation to the Performance of Evacuated Tube Solar Heaters for Arid and Hot Areas

Solar energy applications could be the best alternative to the conventional fuels for the purposes of domestic,water and space heating and some industries in the sunny,arid,and hot areas.In the present study,the performance of an evacuated tube solar heater for water heating for months of February and March was experimentally investigated.This was performed in a hot and arid area(Nasiriya City,South of Iraq).A solar heater with ten evacuated tube solar collectors with a capacity of 100 liter was used in the experiments.Each evacuated tube had a length of 1.8m with an outside diameter of 8 cm.It was observed that for the two selected months,water temperature of the solar heater reached a maximum more than 70°C during sunny days with no heat extraction from the tank of the solar heater.Moreover,heat was extracted from the solar collector with four different flowrates 0.5,0.75,1,and 1.25 l/min,respectively.The results showed that temperature of the solar heater behaved differently from the static situation.When the heat extraction begun,there was a gradual and noticeable decrease in the water temperature of the heater.The observed decrease was slight with the lowest flowrate(0.25 l/m)and becomes sharp with the highest flowrate(1.25 l/min).However,water temperature of the solar heater remained higher than 40°C for the investigated flowrates except the case of 1.25 l/min.The results showed that evacuated tube solar heater can work efficiently in arid and hot areas in winter and spring seasons when the conditions of solar radiation are suitable.

Performance of Water in Glass Evacuated Tube Solar Water Heater under Kenya Climatic Condition

Solar water heaters which provide a cost-effective and environmental friendly approach to hot water generation are in widespread application. Evacuated tube solar water heaters perform better than flat plate solar water heaters as a result of their greater surface area exposed for sunlight absorption. Water-in-glass evacuated tube solar water heaters are widely used as compared to heat-pipe solar water heaters due to their short payback periods. In this study, the performance of water-in-glass evacuated tube solar water heater is investigated through experiments under the climatic conditions in Kenya. The results revealed a daily efficiency range of 0.58 - 0.65 and a daily final outlet temperature greater than 55°C given an initial temperature of 25°C.

Manufacturing and Thermal Performance Test of (Compound) Solar Collector in Damascus City

Solar water collectors that uses for domestic and industrial applications within temperature up to, are classified under two main types: Flat Plate collector (FP), and Evacuated Tube collector (ET). Thermal performance test results showed that each type have different thermal features. Comparison between (FP & ET) collectors showed that they could take advantages of different thermal features of two types when they work in the same climatic conditions and overlap of these thermal features when they work in different operational conditions. They can take advantage of these features through (compound) solar collector. Compound solar water Collector (CO) composed of a part of flat plate collector shape (FP), and a part of evacuated tube collector shape (ET). Booth have equal reference area, and connected together to be as one Solar collector (CO). Water entered first flat part (FP), then evacuated tube part (ET) then to tank or end-use. In this paper, present design and manufacturing as well the thermal performance test of (compound) solar collector, according to Standard Specification of tests, was EN12975:2001. Mechanical test for (CO) collector conducted successfully according to durability, reliability, and safety requirements. In addition, thermal performance was tested in steady state at the climatic conditions of Damascus city, and concluded the thermal performance of (FP & ET) that constitute (CO) collector. The results showed enhancement of thermal performance.

Performance and Optimization of a Small Hybrid Solar-Thermal Collector

A hybrid solar collector was designed to investigate the effects of combining two different solar collector techniques on the overall collector’s effectiveness. While most solar collectors focus only on one solar collection method, the small hybrid system uses a flat plate collector in conjunction with five evacuated tubes to absorb the most energy possible from both direct and diffuse solar radiation. Data was collected over four months while the system operated at different flow rates and with various levels of available insolation from the sun to evaluate the performance of the solar collector. To understand the relative contribution of the flat plate collector and the evacuated tubes, temperature differences across each part of the system were measured. The results indicate the average first law efficiency of the hybrid system is 43.3%, significantly higher than the performance of the flat plate alone. An exergy analysis was performed for this system to assess the performance of the flat plate system by itself. Results of the second law analysis were comparable to the exergetic efficiencies of other experimental collectors, around 4%. Though the efficiencies were in the expected range, they reveal that further improvements to the system are possible.

Developments of solar collectors in China

China has abundant solar energy resource. Solar thermal collectors, particularly all-glass evacuated tubular collectors, have been studied and developed for 30 years, and solar thermal industry has developed rapidly for 15 years. There are various solar thermal systems, with an operation area of around 108 million m2 in 2007. These systems mainly provide domestic hot water, but some other applications are under extensive study and development as well.

全玻璃真空太阳集热管关键技术参数研究进展

全玻璃真空太阳集热管是太阳能热利用系统的重要组成部分,其性能参数的优劣直接影响到太阳能热利用系统的热性能、耐久可靠性和节能效果。文章从真空管基本结构和工作原理的介绍出发,对影响真空管性能的光学性能、热性能等关键技术参数及玻璃管材料、真空性能等其他技术要求的研究进展做了详细分析,并在长期从事科研和检测工作的基础上,给出了提升真空管的产品性能可从玻璃管生产优化、新涂层开发、真空性能加强、技术创新、先进设备开发、标准修订等方面的建议。

脉动热管太阳能集热器传热性能实验研究

以真空玻璃管为载体、石蜡为相变储热材料、脉动热管和铜管为传热元件,对比分析了充液率φ=50.0%的脉动热管太阳能集热器与铜管太阳能集热器在相同辐照度下的集热性能。研究结果表明,当辐照度大于0 W/m^(2)时,脉动热管太阳能集热器相比于铜管太阳能集热器管壁温度提高了40℃;相较于铜管太阳能集热器,热源温度越高,脉动热管太阳能集热器吸热能力越强,传热效果越好;在相同的辐照度下,相比于铜管太阳能集热器,脉动热管太阳能集热器内的石蜡达到熔点的时间缩短了13%;脉动热管太阳能集热器输出的热量比铜管太阳能集热器高0.5 kJ,随着辐照度的增强,热量差值将会更大;脉动热管蒸发段和冷凝段壁面与其相接触的传热工质会形成一种准平衡态,蒸发段与冷凝段的传热能力呈反比关系,当蒸发段传热能力下降时,冷凝段传热能力上升,保证了集热器的稳定运行。

级联型潜热储存耦合热泵系统性能研究

为提高太阳能利用率和热泵热力学性能,将真空管集热器、热泵和填充床等结合,提出一种级联型潜热储存耦合热泵系统用于建筑供热。针对太阳能集热及室外温度等条件,将太阳能蓄热和室外空气作为热泵的热源进行系统集成设计。在FLUENT和EES中分别建立填充床和热泵的热力学模型,并分析填充床的换热流体流量、放热温度和用户回水温度对系统热力性能的影响。结果表明,填充床流体流量从0.05 kg/s增至0.07 kg/s时,热泵系统整体平均性能指数下降0.16;填充床作为热源的放热温度升高20℃时,填充床供热增加74269 kJ,有效放热率下降21.9%;当用户回水温度升高10℃时,热泵系统整体平均性能指数下降0.19,有效放热率下降16.2%。

太阳能真空集热管热损分析与试验研究

基于热平衡法提出了一种动态热平衡热损计算方法,并进行了验证,同时分析了环境温度、进口温度、流量对真空集热管热损的影响。结果表明,热损随着环境温度的降低、进口熔盐温度的升高和熔盐质量流量的降低而增大;当辐照强度在700 W/m2以上时,真空集热管获得的热量大于热损并能稳定工作,说明槽式光热电站在东南沿海等太阳能资源相对不足的地区有一定的适用性。

高寒地区平板热管式太阳能集热系统热性能研究

基于呼和浩特地区高寒气候条件,搭建两组完全一致的平板热管式太阳能集热系统,通过实验对比分析太阳辐射强度、传热工质流量、集热板表面积尘等因素对集热器瞬时集热效率以及系统热性能的影响。结果表明,在同等外界条件下,集热器的集热效率随着工质流量的增加而增大,集热效率与太阳辐射强度变化趋势相近,随积尘密度的增加,集热板表面积尘导致系统的得热量减少,集热性能下降。

内插式真空管集热器集热性能提升技术研究综述

真空管太阳能集热器是太阳能热利用的重要途径。内插式真空管集热器是一种结构优化后的真空管集热器,为提升其集热性能,介绍了内插式真空管集热器的工作原理,对其传热机理进行了分析,归纳了当前对内插式真空管集热器的集热性能的研究现状,并在此基础上通过建立集热效率关于环境参数及流量的关联式、改进内插管主管和支管管径尺寸、综合优化集热器布置方式及管间距并设置反射板的方式等方法分析了存在的问题,为低成本、高效率的内插式真空管集热器的研究发展提供了参考依据。

Thermo-economic analysis of the performance of the combined system with evacuated tube collectors

Using combined cooling,heat and power systems can be an appropriate substitute for preventing emissions of pollutants and excessive consumption of fossil fuels.Utilizing renewable energy in these systems as a source of power generation can be an appropriate substitute for fossil-fuel-based systems.Therefore,in this paper,cogeneration cooling,heat and power systems based on gas-fired internal combustion engines with a solar-thermal system with evacuated tube collectors have been modelled and thermo-economic analysis has been done to compare fossil-fuel-based systems.The required rate of heat to supply the hot water is 50 kW.In the studied system,the internal combustion engine produces electrical energy.Then,the solar-thermal system with evacuated tube collectors and the gas-burning generator provide the thermal energy required by the studied building and the primary stimulus of the absorption chiller for cooling.In this study,two different scenarios are conducted in states considering simultaneous production systems and regardless of this environmental and thermo-economic analysis system.The results showed that the efficiency of the studied system was 60% in summer and 56% in winter.

Experimental investigations on the heat transfer characteristics of micro heat pipe array applied to flat plate solar collector

This paper introduces a novel flat plate solar collector(FPC) using micro heat pipe array(MHPA) as a key element.To analyze the thermal transfer behavior of flat plate solar collector with micro heat pipe array(MHPA-FPC),an indoor experiment for thermal transfer characteristic of MHPA applied to FPC was conducted by using an electrical heating film to simulate the solar radiation.Different cooling water flow rates,cooling water temperatures,slopes,and contact thermal resistances between the condenser of MHPA and the heat exchanger were tested at different heating powers.The experimental results indicate that MHPA-FPC exhibits the enhanced heat transfer capability with increased cooling water flow rate and temperature.Total thermal resistance has a maximum decline of approximately 10% when the flow rate increases from 180 to 360 L h 1 and 38% when the cooling water temperature increases from 20℃ to 40℃.When the inclination angle of MHPA-FPC exceeds 30°,the slope change has a negligible effect on the heat transfer performance of MHPA-FPC.In addition,contact thermal resistance significantly affects the heat transfer capability of MHPA-FPC.The total thermal resistances lowers to nearly half of the original level when contact material between the condenser of MHPA and the heat exchanger changes from conductive silicone to conductive grease.These results could provide useful information for the optimal design and operation of MHPA-FPC.

A Mechanical and Experimental Study on the Heat Loss of Solar Evacuated Tube

The experimental system of heat loss of all-glass evacuated solar collector tubes(evacuated tube) is firstly designed and constructed,which uses electric heater as thermal resource.The equilibrium temperatures are less than±1℃during the test.and the temperature differences of up/middle/low node in the tube are less than 1℃,3℃,and 7℃respectively.The heat loss of evacuated tube increases about 2.7%with vacuum state of 0.01--1 mPa,and it has the best performance at tube temperature of 20--280℃.The invalidation tube(>200 mPa) has the biggest heat loss that increases linearly with the tube temperature.The evacuated tubes with the vacuum of 0.01-1 mPa are suitable for most solar adsorption refrigeration.

Heat Leakage Numerical Investigation of a Compound Parabolic ConcentratorPulsating Heat Pipe Solar Collector

As a new type of equipment for solar medium temperature utilization, the compound parabolic concentrator-pulsating heat pipe solar collector(CPC-PHPSC) uses pulsating heat pipe(PHP) as an endotherm, which can realize efficient energy conversion. The design of proper concentration ratio of compound parabolic concentrator(CPC) ensures that the incident sunlight can be concentrated on the evaporator section surface of PHP without solar tracking system. The objective of the present work is to study the influence of solar radiation intensity, air speed, material thickness(glass and insulation board) and tilt angle on the thermal performance of the new collector, which is difficult to control in the experiment. The heat leakage process and characteristics of the CPC-PHPSC were numerically studied by establishing a 3D numerical model of the collector unit. The results show that the theoretical collector efficiency of CPC-PHPSC reaches 74.5%, which is consistent with the experimental results. During operation, the heat collection performance is the best when the tilt angle is 45° and the solar radiation intensity is 1000 W/m^(2), while the excessive air speed will increase the convective heat loss. Increasing the thickness of insulation board and glass has little effect on the collector efficiency.

Laminar Natural Convective Heat Transfer in theEnclosed Evacuated Collector Tube with East-West Symmetric Heat Input

Heat transfer in the evacuated collector tube is a three-dimensional laminar natural convection prob-lem driven by buoyancy. Because of its complexity, no effective theoretical model is available despiteof limited experimental work which is confined to one aspect- The present work aims to depict theconvective heat transfer inside a tweended inclined tube with East-West symmetric heat input us-ing numerical methods. Based on reasonable assumptions, governing equations of the inside fluid areestabllshed. The corresponding discretizated equations are solved by employing numerical methods.The calculated results are displayed for velocity and temperature profiles on different cross-sectionalplanes, which present the flow pattern characterized by upflow and dowallow along the axial direc-tion and adherent flow along the peripheral direction, and the heat transfer process from the wall tothe center. Furthermore, the transient Nusselt number and average temperature level are shown anddiscussed. Finally, the parametric effects of the tube radius and the heat input on the flow and heattransfer are also given.

Modelling, Transient Simulation and Economic Analysis of Solar Thermal Based Air Conditioning System in Gujarat

Commercial building sector accounts for 8% of the total electricity consumption in India. Cooling activities (HVAC) in commercial buildings consume 55% of the total energy utilized. Consequently, CO2 emissions from conventional buildings in India were estimated to be 98 metric tonnes of CO2 per million ft2 in 2014. Solar thermal air conditioning can be the solution to these demands and can contribute to about 15% to 20% of India’s total oil consumption thereby reducing the dependence on fossil fuels. Hence, the main objective of the work is to model and simulate a solar absorption cooling system for GERMI office building located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India, using the transient simulation software ‘TRNSYS’. Cooling load estimation and comfort conditions required for the building were determined based on ASHRAE standards. Evacuated tube collectors were selected because of its market availability, ease of manufacturing and proven technology. Single effect absorption chiller was used because of its commercial availability. The effects of storage tank volume, collector area and collector slope were also investigated for parametric optimization. The results of the simulation and parametric analysis are analyzed and presented in the paper.