含相变材料双层玻璃窗光热分析模型

建立了含相变材料双层玻璃窗的光热传输模型,考虑相变材料和玻璃半透明特性,采用有限差分求解方程。在通过实验数据验证模型准确的基础上,分析了相变材料的融化温度对含相变材料双层玻璃窗光热性能的影响。结果显示:建立的模型可模拟相变材料双层玻璃窗的光热传输过程;随融化温度升高,含相变材料双层玻璃窗温度衰减因子则逐渐增大,相变材料融化时间延后,相变材料呈液态的时间变短,但温度滞后值、热流密度和太阳透射能则呈不规则变化。     

U-values, optical and thermal coefficients of composite glass systems

This paper presents a different approach for thermal effective windows, i.e. windows which reduce energy transmitted into or out of the room. The idea is to use a double-sealed glass filled with pcm whose fusion temperature is determined by solar-thermal calculations. The investigation is divided into two main parts: modeling of the heat and radiation transfer through the composite window and the optical investigation of the pcm-filled window. A one-dimensional thermal model for the composite window was developed to predict the resulting effects due to variation of the geometrical and pcm thermal properties. Optical investigations using photo-spectrometry were realized on single glass, double glass filled with air, and double glass filled with pcm. The transmittance and reflectivity tests indicate large reductions in the infrared and ultraviolet radiations while maintaining the good visibility. The effects of thickness of glass and spacing were also analyzed.     

Investigation on thermal performance of glazed solar chimney walls

This paper reports investigation on the thermal performance of glazed solar chimney walls (GSCW) under the tropical climatic conditions of Thailand. The GSCW consisted of double glass panes with an air layer and openings located at the bottom (room side glass pane) and at the top (ambient side glass pane). A prototype of GSCW was integrated into the southern wall of a small room of 2.8 m³ volume. Its dimensions were as follows: 0.74 m height, 0.50 m width and 0.10 m air gap. The size of openings was 0.05 × 0.5 m². With a clear glass of 6 mm thickness, velocity field measurement indicated that the induced airflow rate was about 0.13–0.28 m³/s. The temperature difference between room and ambient was less than that with a single layer clear glass window. The reduction of daylight due to the double glass layer is negligible. Comparison between simulated and experimental results showed a reasonable agreement, therefore, the developed numerical model is valid and could be used as a tool for the design of GSCW.     

Seasonal thermal performance analysis of glazed window filled with paraffin including various nanoparticles

A two-dimensional heat transfer model was proposed to numerically investigate the effect of enriching phase change material (PCM) with different kinds of nanoparticles on thermal performance of glazing windows in different seasons of the year. The results were presented in terms of liquid fraction of PCM, inner surface temperature and temperature difference between interior and exterior surfaces of glass window, and their occurrence times. The results showed that adding nanoparticles into PCM can promote the melting and solidification processes, extend the total time of PCM being in the liquid state, and raise the internal surface temperature of glass. However, in summer season, the internal surface temperature decreases and the total melting time respectively reduces by 7 and 1.5 minutes by introducing TiO₂ and ZnO nanoparticles into PCM. Furthermore, the introduced nanoparticles do not have the same effect on the thermal performance of the window unit. While the inner surface temperature decreases by 0.82 K in summer by addition of TiO₂ to PCM, it increases by 0.84 K in transition season and 0.89 K in winter season by utilizing ZnO nanoparticles. Although the nano-PCM remains in the solid state in winter, the existence of nanoparticles can still increase the inner surface temperature.     

Exergoeconomic analysis of glazed hybrid photovoltaic thermal module air collector

In this paper, an exergoeconomic analysis has been carried out and on the basis of this analysis it has been concluded that in terms of energy saving the glazed hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PVT) module air collector offers a greater potential compared to PV module. The experimental validation for glazed hybrid PVT module air collector has also been performed and it has been observed that there is a good agreement between the theoretical and experimental values with correlation coefficient in range of 0.96–0.99 and root mean square percentage deviation in range of 2.38–7.46. The experiments have been carried out on clear days during the month July 2010 to June 2011. For the validation of theoretical results with experimental results, a typical day of winter month (December 08, 2010) and summer month (April 11, 2011) has been considered. An experimental uncertainty for December and April month is 11.6% and 2.1% respectively. The annual overall thermal energy and exergy gain are 1252.0 kWh and 289.5 kW h respectively. The annual net electrical energy savings by glazed hybrid PVT module air collector is 234.7 kW h.     

Experimental validation of glazed hybrid micro-channel solar cell thermal tile

In this communication, an attempt has been made to evaluate the theoretical performance of a glazed hybrid micro-channel solar cell thermal (MCSCT) tile. Experiment has been performed in indoor condition and it has been observed that there is good agreement between theoretical and experimental values with correlation coefficient and root mean square percentage deviation in range of 0.995–0.998 and 3.21–4.50 respectively. Effect of design parameters on different combination (series and parallel) of glazed hybrid MCSCT tile for Srinagar climatic condition, India has also been evaluated. The theoretical results of glazed hybrid micro-channel photovoltaic thermal (MCPVT) module for 75 W_p have been compared with the result of single channel photovoltaic thermal (SCPVT) module. The average value of electrical and thermal efficiency of glazed hybrid MCPVT module are 14.7% and 10.8% respectively which is significantly higher than SCPVT module. The overall annual exergy efficiency based on second law of thermodynamics has also been evaluated at different mass flow rate for glazed hybrid MCPVT module for Srinagar climatic condition. It has been observed that maximum overall exergy efficiency is 20.28% at 0.000108 kg/s mass flow rate.     

Thermal performance of the exhausting and the semi‐exhausting triple‐glazed airflow windows

The thermal performance of the airflow window systems was studied numerically using the finite‐volume method. Effort was directed towards the reduction in space cooling load for the exhausting and the semi‐exhausting triple‐glazed airflow windows. The effects of various parameters such as exhausting airflow rate, solar insolation, and aspect ratio were presented. Some qualitative and quantitative comparisons between two systems were made. It was disclosed that the space‐heat gain was considerably reduced by increasing the exhausting airflow rate, and the decrease in the space‐heat gain of the semi‐exhausting airflow window was larger than that of the exhausting airflow window by about 10 W throughout most of the Re range (except the range of near Re = 0) of this numerical work. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of glass coating emittance and frame rebate on heat transfer through vacuum and electrochromic vacuum glazed windows

The thermal performance of an electrochromic vacuum glazing and a vacuum glazing with a range of low-emittance coatings and frame rebate depths were simulated for insolations between 0 and 1000 W m⁻² using a three-dimensional finite volume model. The vacuum glazing simulated comprised two 0.4 m×0.4 m glass panes separated by a 0.12 mm wide evacuated space supported by a 0.32 mm diameter pillar array spaced at 25 mm. The two glass sheets were sealed contiguously by a 6 mm wide metal edge seal and had either one or two low-emittance coatings. For the electrochromic vacuum glazing, a third glass pane on which an electrochromic layer was deposited was assumed to be sealed to an evacuated glass unit, to enable control of visible light transmittance and solar gain and thus improve occupant thermal comfort. It is shown that for both vacuum glazing and electrochromic vacuum glazings, when the coating emittance value is very low (close to 0.02), the use of two low-emittance coatings only gives limited improvement in glazing performance. The use of a single currently expensive low-emittance coating in both systems provided acceptable performance. Deeper frame rebate depths gave significant improvements in thermal performance for both glazing systems.     

Solar and thermal energy gain through windows in Jordan

Solar gain and thermal energy transfer through windows is studied for three different sites in Jordan using the TRNSYS computer program. Solar and thermal energy is calculated using the monthly average daily data for the above-mentioned three regions. Calculation of hourly radiation on a vertical plane is presented, and also the method of determination of the amount of radiation transmitted through the glazing layers is given. The effect of window orientation on the total solar gain is analysed. It is found that for all directions, solar gain is season-dependent, and this dependency varies from one direction to another. Calculations are carried out for two cases of glazing location: case 1, glazing flush with the outside of the wall; and case 2, glazing recessed by 15 cm from the outside wall, which represents a window with overhang and sidewalls. The number of glazing layers is taken as 1, 2 and 3 to observe the effect on solar gain as well as on the thermal energy exchange between the inside and outside of the building. During the calculations, the temperature of the inside is fixed at 22°C for the entire year. The results are tabulated to serve as a database for solar and thermal energy in Jordan.     

Optical and thermal characterization procedure for a variable geometry concentrator: A standard approach

Concentrating solar collectors are mentioned in the International Standards, but the general testing methods for solar collectors mentioned cannot easily be applied to such unusual collector designs. In this study, the best optical and thermal model for a variable geometry solar concentrator has been investigated. In the particular case of a collector with a fixed mirror concentrator, the relative position of the receiver with respect to the reflector is not constant during the day, and this variable geometry is not taken into account in the current testing Standards. An optical characterization of the prototype using a ray-tracing program has been performed, and the results have been used as an initial hypothesis to define two thermal models adapted from the European Standard. Those two different models have been compared. The optical results obtained from experiments have been compared to ray-tracing simulation results, and they have been found to be quite similar, considering the measurement uncertainties. This validation procedure of the optical simulation could be an important point to be taken into account in a future Standard revision for variable geometry collector types for which the normal incidence is not easy to obtain.     

Solar stills with low thermal inertia

A small plastic still of approx. 2 ft² area was developed, incorporating several unconventional design features, viz, a floating solar absorber to heat a thin layer of surface water, and a single-sloped roof with a specularly reflecting back wall. The superior performance of this still, when compared to conventional units, is attributed to its lower thermal inertia, the higher heat input per unit area, and lower heat losses. Factors which are considered important and are discussed include: (1) the significance of the thermal inertia of the air space between the water and the roof; (2) the need for separate consideration of the water evaporation and condensation rates, and the resulting time delay between their maxima during the daily cycle. The roof geometry and orientation of the conventional and experimental stills are discussed in relation to the sun's altitude.     

Silver-based low-emissivity coatings for architectural windows: Optical and structural properties

Spectrally selective coatings are, nowadays, deposited onto architectural windows to be employed in commercial and residential buildings for the purpose of saving energy. In this work, the fundamental optical and structural properties of two types of low-emissivity silver-based coatings deposited onto glass, Ag and SnO₂/Ni-Cr/Ag/Ni-Cr/SnO₂ (Vitrage à couches avec une forte reflexion des rayonnements thermiques, European Patent EP 0 506 507 B1) are analyzed. It has been demonstrated that the silver-based multilayer coatings give an efficient heat isolation due to their low emissivity values, thus not deteriorating the optical properties in the visible range given by the glass substrate. From Atomic Force Microscopy measurements it has been determined that the Ag layer has a more homogeneous grain size when is deposited onto the Ni-Cr layer than when is deposited onto glass.     

Optical and thermal analysis of trough-like concentrators

This paper presents an investigation of the optical and thermal properties of trough-like concentrators. The radiative and convective heat transfers through a trough concentrator have been evaluated. A simple analytical technique for calculating the average number of reflections and optical losses has been developed. Effective emissivity ε_eff and the collector efficiency η increase with an increase in the concentration factor. Further, the efficiency decreases with an increase in the temperature of the absorber.     

On the feasibility of colored glazed thermal solar collectors based on thin film interference filters

Glazed thermal solar collectors, typically equipped with black, optical selective absorber sheets, exhibit good energy conversion efficiency. However, the black color, and sometimes the visibility of tubes and corrugations of the metal sheets, limit the architectural integration into buildings. In order to overcome this drawback, interference filters are considered as a promising approach. Multilayered thin film stacks deposited on the cover glass can produce a colored reflection hiding the black absorber without a great loss of energy. These interference filters are designed and optimized by numerical simulation. Such coatings are deposited by vacuum processes (e.g. magnetron sputtering) and also via the SolGel method. Optical measurements, such as real-time laser-reflectometry and spectrophotometry, are suitable to determine film thicknesses and optical constants of individual layers, and to measure color coordinates and solar transmittance for the multilayer stacks. Advantages and disadvantages of the different coating processes are discussed.     

The thermal performance of window coverings in a whole house test facility with single-glazed sash windows

The residential sector is responsible for 29% of the total energy consumption of the UK, with 62% of this energy being used for space heating. Heat loss through the fabric of building elements is a crucial factor in the energy efficiency of homes, and a wide number of studies have looked at physical interventions to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings, commonly called retrofit. This research considers the impact of window coverings on reducing heat loss from homes, a measure that is not commonly considered an energy efficiency intervention. Although the amount of glazing varies widely between homes, all windows are a significant factor contributing to heat loss. While physical changes such as double and triple glazing can improve the energy performance of buildings, the impact of curtains and blinds is not well characterised. Previous research into window coverings has been undertaken using laboratory tests, such as hotbox and small climatic chamber environments. This study presents the impact of window coverings on heat loss within a unique whole house test facility. This allows for a better replication of a real heating system and the effects that it has on localised heat transfer. This gives a more detailed picture of in situ performance, similar to that which may be found in the field.     

Optical and thermal properties of compound parabolic concentrators

Compound Parabolic Concentrators (CPC) are relevant for solar energy collection because they achieve the highest possible concentration for any acceptance angle (tracking requirement). The convective and radiative heat transfer through a CPC are calculated, and formulas for evaluating the performance of solar collectors based on the CPC principle are presented. A simple analytic technique for calculating the average number of reflections for radiation passing through a CPC is developed; this is useful for computing optical losses. In most practical applications, a CPC will be truncated because a large portion of the reflector area can be eliminated without seriously reducing the concentration. The effects of this truncation are described explicitly. The paper includes many numerical examples, displayed in tables and graphs, which should be helpful in designing CPC solar collectors.     

Optical properties and characterization of CuInSe2

CuInSe₂ single crystals grown from stoichiometric melts were studied by differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, optical absorption and photoluminescence measurements. The resulting crystals were In-rich and exhibited n-type conductivity. From the optical measurements at low temperatures, a donor level around 12 meV and an acceptor level at about 40 meV, which have been attributed to indium atoms on copper sites and to copper vacancies respectively, appear as the predominant defect pair in our samples. Another defect level at about 70 meV, probably a donor level, has also been observed. Optical absorption measurements at room temperature show the presence of residual absorption, which has been attributed to direct-phononassisted transitions.     

Optical and thermal analysis of a cassegrainian solar concentrator

For the storage of solar energy in a chemical system, a Cassegrainian type solar collector is investigated. With generalized geometry, a non-skew ray from the edge of the solar disc is followed through the Cassegrainian configuration to the final image to define the image height. Parametric results are presented in a form which can be used to predict performance based on off-axis optics.Equations and graphs allow the incorporation of angular error into the calculations. Slope of 5 for the limiting tangent to the hyperbolic secondary appears near optimum. The focal length of the hyperboloid is not an important factor as long as it is similar to the focal length of the paraboloid. The required diameter for the hyperboloid is typically half the diameter of the paraboloid.A set of design equations is developed, and their use is demonstrated. Design parameters are calculated for chemical reactor loads of 1.0, 0.5, and 0.1 MW.     

Thermal property characterization of a low melting-temperature ternary nitrate salt mixture for thermal energy storage systems

Molten salts have better thermal properties than synthetic mineral oil, and hence they can be directly used as heat transfer fluids in solar power plants, but in practice their direct applications as heat transfer fluids are constrained due to their high freezing temperature points. In this paper, a class of ternary nitrate salt mixtures consisting of 50-80 wt% KNO₃, 0-25 wt% LiNO₃ and 10-45 wt% Ca(NO₃)₂ were processed and tested. Experimental results indicated that some mixtures within this range exhibited excellent thermal properties, such as a low melting point (<100 °C), robust reliability, high-temperature stability (upto 500 °C) and a low viscosity (e.g.,<5 cP at 190 °C). Apart from these desirable thermo-physical properties, the manufacturing cost of these novel inorganic salts HTFs (Heat Transfer Fluids) is considerably lower than those of the existing commercial heat transfer fluids (HTFs).     

Electrical and thermal characterization of a PV-CPC hybrid

Long term evaluation of an asymmetric CPC PV-thermal hybrid built for high latitudes, MaReCo (MaximumReflectorCollector), is performed in Lund, lat 55.7°, and this paper discusses output estimates and characteristics of the system. The output estimates are calculated using the MINSUN simulation program. To get the input for MINSUN, measurements were performed on two MaReCo prototypes. These measurements show that the front reflector collects most of the irradiation in the summer, and the back reflector in the spring and fall. Two different reflector materials were used, anodized aluminium and aluminium laminated steel. The steel based reflector was selected for its rigidness. The output estimates show no difference in yearly output between the two reflector materials, both back reflectors deliver 168 kW h/(m² cell area) of electricity compared to 136 kW h/m² cell area for cells without reflectors. The cells facing the front reflector deliver 205 kW h/(m² cell area) of electricity. The estimated output of thermal energy was 145 kW h/(m² glazed area) at 50 °C. The estimates show that the optimal placement of the photovoltaic cells is facing the front reflector, but having cells on both sides is in most cases the best option.