Theoretical investigation of the thermal performance of evacuated heat pipe solar collector with optimum tilt angle under various operating conditions

The thermal performance of an individual pipe in an evacuated tube solar collector with a heat pipe is investigated by an analytical method based on the energy balance of the collector. A simulation method was developed and compared to experimental results under different operating conditions, such as different ambient temperature and changes in weather. After comparing the simulation and experimental results, a discrepancy of about 0–6% is observed due to the simple assumptions in the simulation process and unavoidable human factors. The results show that under conditions of poor radiation and low ambient temperature, the efficiency changes rapidly, while it is relatively steady in high-radiation situations, and is influenced by differences in the ambient temperature and the collector inlet temperature. In addition to the change in the tilt angle of the solar collectors, the solar radiation collected by the absorber unit varies, which leads to differences in the outlet temperature and the efficiency.

     

无机热管-真空管太阳能热水系统瞬态热分析

以无机热管-真空管太阳能集热器制成的太阳能热水系统为研究对象,在瞬态传热分析的基础上,推导出了总热损失系数、效率因子、热迁移因子和瞬时效率的理论表达式。通过自编程序,对该热水器在4个典型节气中每天的瞬态热参数变化,以及影响集水管内水温变化的因素进行了计算和分析。结果表明,太阳辐照量和水的质量流量对集水管中的水温影响较大,进水温度对集水管内水温上升曲线斜率的影响较小,但对水温影响较大。研究结果有助于指导该类热水器的设计及其操作性能的预测。     

通过太阳真空管光学性能推导光热转化效率的研究

光热转化效率是衡量太阳能集热器运行能力的关键参数。通过全玻璃真空太阳能集热器透射比和吸收比试验,分析不同太阳集热管的透射比和吸收比;在此基础上,推导太阳能集热器光热转化效率公式,提出理想状态和实际情况下真空管太阳能集热器光热转化效率公式;分析比较太阳集热器光热转化效率和平均日效率,认为罩玻璃管透射比、涂层吸收比、集热管均匀系数、散热损失、流动损失以及放置倾角是影响太阳集热器光热转化效率的因素。     

Utilization of honeycomb structures for a flat-plate solar collector by reduction of natural convection heat loss

A most common and economical way of utilizing solar energy is to use a flatplate collector to capture incoming solar energy by heating either liquids or gases. Therefore, a solar collector should be the most critical part of the performance necessary for the system, since maximum available heat depends solely on the collector. In the present investigation, considering that most heat loss from solar collectors results from the natural convection between an absorber plate and a coverglass,it has been demonstrated that this natural convection can be suppressed and heat performances of a solar collector are enhanced by placing thin and poorly conducting honeycomb material between an absorber plate and a coverglass. By suppressing natural convection within collector spacing it has been shown experimentally that honeycomb structures effectively raise critical Rayleigh number, since they provide more shear surfaces.     

Comparison of optimized roughness parameters of some artificially roughened solar air heaters

In this study, theoretical investigation derived from experimental correlations and the artificial bee colony optimization method are used to determine the optimum geometrical parameters which maximize the termohydraulic efficiency of some artificially roughened solar air heaters. Nine different roughness types are considered, i.e., transverse wedge-shaped rib roughness, protrusion roughness, multiple v-ribs roughness, rib-grooved roughness, metal grit ribs roughness, compound turbulators roughness, v-shaped rib roughness, arc-shaped wire roughness, and discrete v-down ribs roughness. The effects of the artificial roughness element parameters on the best thermal performance and the thermohydraulic performance are compared. Optimum results are obtained with multiple v-ribs roughness for the low mass flow rate (MFR = 0.1 kg/s) and with protrusion roughness for the high mass flow rate (MFR = 0.5 kg/s). Optimum roughness parameters and corresponding thermal and thermohydraulic efficiencies are tabulated for each solar collector type. As expected, increased roughness geometry leads to higher pressure loss and reduces thermohydraulic efficiency.

     

Analytical thermal analysis of air-heating solar collectors

In this paper, Optimal homotopy asymptotic method (OHAM) and homotopy perturbation method (HPM) are applied to investigate heat transfer in the air-heating flat-plate solar collectors. Results for different values of active parameters are compared with numerical method (fourth order Runge-Kutta method). The results confirm the notion that the HPM method is more accurate than OHAM and efficient technique for finding exact solutions for differential equations which have great significance in different fields of science and engineering. Effects of air flow rate, width and length of the collector on thermal efficiency are examined. As an important outcome, increasing in the collector’s dimensions (width and length) make a decreasing in thermal efficiency, but increasing in air mass flow rates improve it.     

复合抛物面-渐开线聚光的闷晒式太阳能热水器

针对全玻璃真空管与平板太阳能热水器存在系统复杂、成本高、不易维护等缺点,以及传统闷晒式热水器存在集热效率低和热损失严重等问题,提出了一种集热效率高、热损失小、成本低的基于复合抛物面-渐开线聚光的闷晒式太阳能热水器。对复合抛物面、渐开线以及复合抛物面和渐开线二者结合的聚光器进行了优化设计,制作了与该聚光系统配套的带有选择性吸收涂层的集热器水箱。最后,搭建了闷晒式热水器系统并进行了集热性能测试。结果表明,当太阳辐照强度的平均值为800 W/m~2、周围环境的平均温度约为21℃时,闷晒式热水器可以将40L水从21℃加热至62.20℃,系统的瞬时效率截距为0.63,热损系数为10.40 W/(m~2·℃)。而传统黑色聚乙烯塑料袋闷晒式热水器的瞬时效率截距为0.31,热损系数为13.32 W/(m~2·℃),与其相比,本系统在集热效率和保温性能上有着明显的优势,完全能够满足人们的日常生活用热水,具有良好的市场前景。     

Effect of working-fluid filling ratio and cooling-water flow rate on the performance of solar collector with closed-loop oscillating heat pipe

This study experimentally investigated the effect of the working-fluid filling ratio (FR) and the cooling-water flow rate (CWFR) on the top heat loss and the performance of a solar collector equipped with a closed-loop oscillating heat pipe (CLOHP). The CLOHP was composed of a heating section, a cooling section, and an adiabatic section; it had a 0.002-m internal diameter and eight turns. The heating section was attached to a copper plate coated with black chrome, which absorbed energy from a solar simulator that had 12 halogen lamps and was controlled by a voltage regulator. The cooling section was inserted into the collector’s cooling box, which was made of a transparent acrylic plate. The FR of the working fluid ranged from 30% to 80% with a 10% interval, and the CWFRs were 0.15 l/min, 0.30 l/min, and 0.45 l/min. The experimental results show that the solar collector equipped with the CLOHP has good performance at working-fluid FRs of 60% and 70% with low flow rates of 0.15 l/min and 0.30 l/min.     

Energy,exergy, environmental and economic (4E) analysis of evacuated tube solar collector with helical coils

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - In this article, the comprehensive analysis on the energy, exergy, environmental and economic aspects of the modified evacuated solar collector having...     

Experimental investigation on ejector cooling system performance at low generator temperatures and a preliminary study on solar energy

In this paper, the performance of an ejector cooling system with constant-area mixing chamber was investigated at low generator temperatures. The cooling system was tested by using hot water as driving fluid and R123 as working fluid. The effects of operating temperatures on the cooling capacity and on the coefficient of performance (COP) of the system were experimentally investigated at an ejector area ratio of 7.17, which is suitable for solar cooling. As a result, COP of 0.42 was obtained at a vapor generator temperature of 74°C, evaporator temperature of 10°C, and at a critical condenser temperature of 29°C. A solar application of the system with single-glazed selective-type collectors in a horizontal position was conducted as a preliminary study. In the solar application, a cooling capacity of 1080 W for a 9.2 m² collection area at an evaporator temperature of 10°C was obtained.     

Mathematical modelling and experimental investigation on sun and solar drying of white mulberry

The drying kinetics of white mulberry was investigated in a solar dryer with forced convection and under open sun with natural convection. The constant rate period is absent from the drying curve. The drying process took place in the falling rate period. The drying data were fitted to the different mathematical models. The performance of these models was investigated by comparing the determination of coefficient (R), reduced chi-square (χ ²) and root mean square error (RMSE) between the observed and predicted moisture ratios. Among these models, the drying model developed by Logarithmic model showed good agreement with the data obtained from the experiments in the solar dryer with forced convection drying mode. The Verma et al. model has shown a better fit to the experimental mulberries data for open sun drying with natural convection mode than the other models. The effective moisture diffusivity values were estimated from Fick’s diffusional model. These values were 3.56×10⁻⁹ m²/s for solar drying and 2.40×10⁻⁹ m²/s for open sun drying.     

太阳能热泵地板辐射供暖系统的实验研究

设计建立了以热管式真空管太阳能热水器和水源热泵机组为热源,以地板辐射采暖系统为末端装置的太阳能热泵地板辐射供暖系统实验台。通过对实验台冬季供暖工况的实验研究,考察了采暖房间的热力过程以及太阳能集热器、热泵机组等主要设备的工作性能。实验结果表明,实验台设计方案可行,主要设备的工作性能达到了设计要求。     

Experiments on the turbulent shear flow in a turn-around duct(II)—The structure of turbulence

Detailed measurements including two-component mean velocities (U andV), RMS of turbulent fluctuations (u′ andv′) and turbulent cross-correlation (uv) were made throughout a turn-around duct. Two-component velocity data were obtained using a Laser Doppler Velocimeter. With the aid of a digitized data acquisition system, energy spectra were estimated using a Fast Fourier Transform. Along the outer wall, the flow is affected more than the half across the channel height due to the centrifugal instability. The measured results are consistent with the turbulence production mechanism for stabilizing and destabilizing curved flows. Energy production and dissipation are reduced along the convex wall and amplified along the concave wall. In the quasi-laminar region, turbulent fluctuations and cross-correlations are damped. The mean flow and turbulence structure in this region are influenced mainly by the streamwise pressure gradient rather than curvature. The flow in the downstream part of the turn is dominated by the inertial effect. The turbulent large eddy motions along the concave wall are strongly anisotropic.     

Investigation of thermal performance of SAC variables using fuzzy logic based expert system

The thermal performance of a solar air collector (SAC) is investigated experimentally under the different climatic conditions of north eastern India using fuzzy logic based expert system (FLES). The FLES based on subtractive clustering (SC) with the fuzzy logic method where here, SC is used for extraction of optimal fuzzy IF-THEN rules while a fuzzy logic is used for modeling of SAC variables. This work considered four input variables [like mass flow rate (m), collector tilt angles (θ), solar radiation (Q), temperature (T)] and the four output variables [i.e. efficiency (η), exergetic efficiency (η_II), temperature rise (∆T), and pressure drop (∆P)]. First, 272 trials of experimentation on SAC are performed by varying m from 0.0078 to 0.0118 kg/s and θ from 30 to 60°, whereas the variation of metrological data is obtained in different working days. Then modeling and parametric analysis is carried out for SAC. Experimental results reveal that the value of η increases with the increase in m, Q, T and θ up to 45°. The higher value of m results in a higher value of ∆P and that reduces the value of η_II. Also, FLES model provides comparable and acceptable values for SAC. At last, validation of the FLES model is done via published data to confirm the results.

     

槽式太阳能中温集热技术研究

研究了一种太阳能中温集热用的槽式集热器,分析了该集热器的集热效率、热损及系统功率等参数.表明该槽式集热器具有良好的集热效果,在工农业用热中具有应用前景.     

太阳能真空管热管式集热管温度场及流场分析

在真空管热管结构分析和边界条件合理假设的前提下,建立二维数学模型;利用FLUENT软件模拟管内热量传递过程,并揭示其温度场和流场的分布规律,分析温度场和流场的影响因素,为今后的真空管热管集热器的设计和优化提供理论依据.     

Two-phase flow heat transfer of R-134a in microtubes

The characteristics of the two-phase flow heat transfer of R-134a in microtubes with inner diameters of 430 μm and 792 μm were experimentally investigated. The effect of the heat flux on the heat transfer coefficient for microtubes was significant before the transition quality. The boiling number expressed the interrelation between the heat flux and the mass about the heat transfer coefficients. The smaller microtube had greater heat transfer coefficients; the average heat transfer coefficient for the tube A (D _i = 430 μm) was 47.0% greater than that for the tube B (D _i = 792 μm) at G = 370 kg/m²·s and q″ = 20 kW·m². A new correlation for the evaporative heat transfer coefficients in microtubes was developed by considering the following factors: the laminar flow heat transfer coefficient of liquid-phase flow, the enhancement factor of the convective heat transfer, and the nucleate boiling correction factor. The correlation developed in present study predicted the experimental heat transfer coefficients within an absolute average deviation of 8.4%.     

Relationship between skin color and solar elastosis in aged Asian skin: A colorimetric–pathologic correlation

Aged skin is reported to be associated with unattractive skin color changes and solar elastosis. However, comparative studies have not documented the possible correlation between the two factors. This study investigated the plausible relationship between the facial skin color of elderly Asians and solar elastosis. A total of 22 skin specimens were collected from 22 Korean patients who underwent cheek skin biopsies. Skin color was quantitatively measured using colorimetric photography techniques to produce CIE L *a *b * values; the degree of solar elastosis was quantifiably assessed using a histologic grading scale. These values were used to investigate a correlation between the CIE L *a *b * coordinates and solar elastosis grade. The solar elastosis grade increased according to patient age (r = 0.67, p = .0006). However, the extent of solar elastosis was not statistically correlated with the CIE L *a *b * values, including L *, a *, and b * (r = 0.02, p = .95; r = 0.15, p = 0.50; r = ?0.07, p = 0.76, respectively). The results showed that the solar elastosis grade increased, according to patient age, because of cumulative actinic damage. However, colorimetric skin color data did not correlate with the degree of solar elastosis. Therefore, cutaneous color changes and solar elastosis are separate, age‐related phenomena. Physicians should be aware of the possible histologic changes in actinically damaged facial skin, regardless of the skin color.     

Evaluation of friction coefficient using indentation model of Brinell hardness test for sheet metal forming

This work presents an indentation model of the Brinell hardness test, which is a rigid ball-deformable plane contact model (RB-DP model), to elucidate the sliding friction mechanism of sheet metal forming. In the proposed model, the friction force can be defined as a combination of shear (shearing effect) and plough (ploughing effect) forces. The real contact area ratio α is determined from the RBDP model under sliding condition. Moreover, the lateral contact area ratio A _c /A _r can be specified as a function of the real contact area ratio α. Based on Meyer’s law and Hertz contact problem, the maximum contact area ratio α _u , a limiting condition of the real contact area ratio α, can be described as a function of the strain hardening exponent n. Additionally, a limiting condition applies: the strain hardening exponent n must be less than 0.64 in the present model. The present friction model reveals that the friction coefficient μ _d is a function of strain hardening exponent n, the real contact area ratio α and the maximum contact area ratio α _u . The calculated friction coefficient μ _d agrees with the published experimental results.