Modelling and performance study of a continuous adsorption refrigeration system driven by parabolic trough solar collector

This article suggests a numerical study of a continuous adsorption refrigeration system consisting of two adsorbent beds and powered by parabolic trough solar collector (PTC). Activated carbon as adsorbent and ammonia as refrigerant are selected. A predictive model accounting for heat balance in the solar collector components and instantaneous heat and mass transfer in adsorbent bed is presented. The validity of the theoretical model has been tested by comparison with experimental data of the temperature evolution within the adsorber during isosteric heating phase. A good agreement is obtained. The system performance is assessed in terms of specific cooling power (SCP), refrigeration cycle COP (COP_cycle) and solar coefficient of performance (COP_s), which were evaluated by a cycle simulation computer program. The temperature, pressure and adsorbed mass profiles in the two adsorbers have been shown. The influences of some important operating and design parameters on the system performance have been analyzed.The study has put in evidence the ability of such a system to achieve a promising performance and to overcome the intermittence of the adsorption refrigeration systems driven by solar energy. Under the climatic conditions of daily solar radiation being about 14 MJ per 0.8 m² (17.5 MJ/m²) and operating conditions of evaporating temperature, T_ev = 0 °C, condensing temperature, T_con = 30 °C and heat source temperature of 100 °C, the results indicate that the system could achieve a SCP of the order of 104 W/kg, a refrigeration cycle COP of 0.43, and it could produce a daily useful cooling of 2515 kJ per 0.8 m² of collector area, while its gross solar COP could reach 0.18.     

Study of a new solar adsorption refrigerator powered by a parabolic trough collector

This paper presents the study of solar adsorption cooling machine, where the reactor is heated by a parabolic trough collector (PTC) and is coupled with a heat pipe (HP). This reactor contains a porous medium constituted of activated carbon, reacting by adsorption with ammonia.We have developed a model, based on the equilibrium equations of the refrigerant, adsorption isotherms, heat and mass transfer within the adsorbent bed and energy balance in the hybrid system components. From real climatic data, the model computes the performances of the machine. In comparison with other systems powered by flat plate or evacuated tube collectors, the predicted results, have illustrated the ability of the proposed system to achieve a high performance due to high efficiency of PTC, and high flux density of heat pipe.     

Optimization of parabolic trough solar collector system

Process heat produced by solar collectors can contribute significantly in the conservation of conventional energy resources, reducing CO₂ emission, and delaying global warming. One of the major problems associated with solar process heat application is fluctuation in system temperature during unsteady state radiation conditions which may cause significant thermal and operation problems. In this paper a transient simulation model is developed for analysing the performance of industrial water heating systems using parabolic trough solar collectors. The results showed that to prevent dramatic change and instability in process heat during transient radiation periods thermal storage tank size should not be lower than 14.5 l m^?2 of collector area. Small periods of radiation instability lower than 30 min do not have significant effect on system operation. During these periods when water flow rate of collector loop is doubled the time required to restore system normal operating condition increased by a ratio of 1.5. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

小型槽式太阳能集热器优化设计与试验研究

按照高性能低成本的原则设计并制作了集热面积为12 m2的商用小型槽式集热器。其主要创新优化之处包括:1通过免背板设计减少了槽式反射镜面结构的重量和用材,提高了镜面曲率精度;2通过推杆联动机构减少了驱动装置;3反射镜面板分离式结构起到了自清洁功能,减轻了清扫的工作强度;4将闭环反馈技术应用到太阳能跟踪控制系统,可实现四季全天候跟踪。现场试验结果表明:在太阳辐射强度为540~660 W/m2时,该集热器可将循环水加热至170℃以上,系统整体集热效率最高可达0.52,但随水温的升高逐渐降低。     

Performance simulation of a parabolic trough solar collector

A new analytical model for optical performance and a modified integration algorithm are proposed and applied to simulate the performance of a parabolic trough solar collector with vacuum tube receiver. The analytical equation for optical efficiency of each point at reflector is derived first, then the optical efficiency of the system is simulated by numerical integration algorithm. The cosine factor, receiver efficiency, heat loss and efficiency of conversion of solar energy into net heat energy at any time can be calculated with the program. The annual average efficiency is also simulated considering discard loss. The effects of optical error, tracking error, position error from installation of receiver, optical properties of reflector, transmittance and absorptivity of vacuum tube receiver on efficiencies of the trough system are simulated and analyzed as well as optical parameter.     

槽式太阳能供热光伏系统集热器集热性能的实验研究

文章基于沧州地区的气候特点,通过实验分析了传热工质进口温度、直射辐射量对槽式太阳能供热光伏系统中集热器集热性能的影响情况。实验结果表明:沧州地区3月份晴朗天气条件下,槽式太阳能供热光伏系统的集热效率为0.35～0.65;当运行温度为20～100℃时,随着传热工质入口温度逐渐升高,槽式太阳能供热光伏系统中集热器的集热效率和火用效率均得到明显提高;直射辐射量的增大,会导致槽式太阳能供热光伏系统中集热器的集热效率和火用效率随之升高。     

Experimental and numerical investigation on solar parabolic trough collector integrated with thermal energy storage unit

Solar parabolic trough collector (PTC) is the best recognized and commercial‐industrial‐scale, high temperature generation technology available today, and studies to assess its performance will add further impetus in improving these systems. The present work deals with numerical and experimental investigations to study the performance of a small‐scale solar PTC integrated with thermal energy storage system. Aperture area of PTC is 7.5 m², and capacity of thermal energy storage is 60 L. Paraffin has been used as phase change material and water as heat transfer fluid, which also acts as sensible heat storage medium. Experiments have been carried out to investigate the effect of mass flow rate on useful heat gain, thermal efficiency and energy collected/stored. A numerical model has been developed for the receiver/heat collecting element (HCE) based on one dimensional heat transfer equations to study temperature distribution, heat fluxes and thermal losses. Partial differential equations (PDE) obtained from mass and energy balance across HCE are discretized for transient conditions and solved for real time solar flux density values and other physical conditions of the present system. Convective and radiative heat transfers occurring in the HCE are also accounted in this study. Performance parameters obtained from this model are compared with experimental results, and it is found that agreement is good within 10% deviations. These deviations could be due to variations in incident solar radiation fed as input to the numerical model. System thermal efficiency is mainly influenced by heat gain and solar flux density whereas thermal loss is significantly influenced by concentrated solar radiation, receiver tube temperature and heat gained by heat transfer fluid. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

抛物面槽式太阳能集热器场热损失分析

在已有的计算集热器场吸收有用能量模型的基础上,加入影响集热器场效率的热学因素,优化了集热器场效率计算模型,并验证了优化模型的精确性。利用优化模型对抛物面槽式太阳能集热器场热损失机理进行了研究。结果表明,集热器集热元件热效率、入射角以及由入射角引起的端部损失是影响集热器场效率的主要因素。在太阳辐射强度一定的情况下,入射角越小、集热器热收集元件的热效率越高时,集热器场效率越高。     

抛物槽集热器的能量效率

对以镜面不锈钢板为反光材料的抛物槽集热器的能量效率进行了研究,分析了光学效率、热损失对能量效率的影响,计算出有空气夹层的接收器的总热损系数。试验测得的能量效率为21.1%,光学效率为23.9%,总热损系数为10.45W/(m2.℃)。通过对试验数据的分析得知,光学效率是影响能量效率的主要因素,吸收管的传导热损失较辐射热损失大,若将接收器内的空气夹层抽成真空,会大大地减少热损失。     

Mathematical modeling of thermoelectric generator driven by solar parabolic dish collector

This paper presents mathematical modeling of thermoelectric power generator driven by solar parabolic dish collector. The system is modeled by set of mathamatical equations from the first law of thermonadynamics for the subcompoents of solar parabolic dish collector and thermoelectric power generator. The model is solved analytically for the a set of operating and design parameters. Modeling results can be useful for further development of the system to study it economic viability.     

一种槽式太阳能空气集热器热性能的试验研究

为了研究日光温室用槽式太阳能空气集热器的热性能,基于TracePro光学模拟软件设计了一种槽式太阳能空气集热器,对其进行试验研究,分析了不同因素对集热性能的影响规律。实验结果表明,管中空气流速的变化对集热器集热效率和集热量的影响规律是相同的,在不同的流速下,存在最佳空气流速约为4.4 m/s,使得集热器的集热量和集热效率最大,集热量达到373.2 W,集热效率约为25%,此时集热性能最好。对于不同太阳辐照度,正午时刻之前,太阳辐照度越大,集热器的集热效率越大,正午时刻之后,集热器的集热效率基本保持不变,15:40之后集热器集热效率逐渐减小。当太阳辐照度和管中流速相同时,室外温度越高,集热器集热效率越大,集热性能越好。集热管中空气温度沿着集热管出口方向不断增大,太阳辐照度越大,集热管相同位置空气温度越高。该研究结果可为此种槽式太阳能空气集热器在日光温室的应用中提供参考。     

The effect of dust accumulation on line-focus parabolic trough solar collector performance

Based on the major Department of Energy Solar Industrial Process Heat Program, it has been determined that the existing techniques for predicting the performance of parabolic trough solar collectors greatly overpredict the thermal output of these systems. The objective of the research reported herein is to improve the predictive capability of existing models by incorporating a factor that accounts for dust and dirt accumulation on the optical surfaces. This has been accomplished by modifying the optical efficiency with a dust factor to account for the reduced reflectivity of the mirror and reduced transmissivity of the cover glass. This technique has been developed independent of the test data used for verification. The dust factors have been developed from exposure tests conducted at six different sites, so that it is also independent of location and collector type. Wash frequency and optical degradation rate are input to the model to compute the time varying dust factors. Recommendations for these parameters are provided based on long-term observations. The complete model is then used to provide realistic predictions of real-world performance of solar IPH systems.     

Charcoal-methanol adsorption refrigerator powered by a compound parabolic concentrating solar collector

A compound parabolic concentrating solar collector (CPC) of concentration ratio 3.9 and aperture area 2.0 m² was used to power an intermittent solid adsorption refrigerator and ice maker using activated charcoal (carbon) as the adsorbing medium and methanol as the working fluid. The copper tube receiver of the CPC was packed with 2.5 kg of imported adsorbent 207E3, which was only utilised when the performance of activated charcoal (ACJ1, produced from local coconut shells) was found to be inferior to the imported adsorbent. Up to 1 kg of ice at an evaporator temperature of −6°C was produced, with the net solar coefficient of performance (COP) being of the order of 0.02. Maximum receiver/adsorbent temperature recorded was 154°C on a day when the insolation was 26.8 MJ/m⁻². Temperatures in excess of 150°C are undesirable since they favour the conversion of methanol to dimethyl ether, a noncondensable gas which inhibits both condensation and adsorption. The major advantage of this system is its ability to produce ice even on overcast days (insolation 10 MJ/M⁻²).     

非对称槽式抛物面聚光器的仿真与性能研究

基于光学成像原理,设计了一种由两个不同抛物面组合而成的、适于在太阳能中低温集热领域应用的新型非对称槽式抛物面聚光器。文章介绍了该聚光器的工作原理,并在计算机上三维建模,利用光学分析软件计算了其中所安装的圆管型接收器和平板型接收器的光学效率,分析了接收器上的光线接收率随入射偏角的变化趋势。研究结果表明,新型非对称槽式抛物面聚光器在入射偏角为6°时,圆管型接收器表面的光线接收率达到71%;在最大尺寸条件下,圆管型接收器的接收效果优于平板型接收器;实际测试所得的装置聚光热效率为34%。     

Study of an adsorption refrigeration system powered by parabolic trough collector and coupled with a heat pipe

The aim of the current paper is to propose a study of a novel solar adsorptive cooling system, using activated carbon–ammonia pair, coupled with a parabolic trough collector (PTC) and a water-stainless steel heat pipe. A theoretical model, based on the thermodynamics of the adsorption process, heat and mass transfer within the porous medium and energy balance in the hybrid system components, is developed and a simulation code, written in FORTRAN, is carried out. This model, which has been validated by experimentation results, computes the temperature, pressure and adsorbed mass inside the adsorbent bed. The performance is assessed in terms of specific cooling power (SCP) and solar coefficient of performance (COPs). Furthermore, the effect of some important parameters on the system performance is discussed, and an optimization of these parameters is given.The simulation results have shown that there exists, for each aperture width value of the collector (W), an optimum external radius of adsorbent bed (R₂). Under the operating and design conditions of evaporation temperature T_ev = 0 °C, condensing temperature T_con = 28 °C, adsorption temperature T_ads = 24 °C, W = 0.70 m, R₂ = 0.145 m and reactor length of 0.5 m, an optimal corresponding COPs is found to be of the order of 0.18.     

Numerical study on coupled fluid flow and heat transfer process in parabolic trough solar collector tube

A unified two-dimensional numerical model was developed for the coupled heat transfer process in parabolic solar collector tube, which includes nature convection, forced convection, heat conduction and fluid-solid conjugate problem. The effects of Rayleigh number (Ra), tube diameter ratio and thermal conductivity of the tube wall on the heat transfer and fluid flow performance were numerically analyzed. The distributions of flow field, temperature field, local Nu and local temperature gradient were examined. The results show that when Ra is larger than 10⁵, the effects of nature convection must be taken into account. With the increase of tube diameter ratio, the Nusselt number in inner tube (Nu₁) increases and the Nusselt number in annuli space (Nu₂) decreases. With the increase of tube wall thermal conductivity, Nu₁ decreases and Nu₂ increases. When thermal conductivity is larger than 200 W/(m K), it would have little effects on Nu and average temperatures. Due to the effect of the nature convection, along the circumferential direction (from top to down), the temperature in the cross-section decreases and the temperature gradient on inner tube surface increases at first. Then, the temperature and temperature gradients would present a converse variation at θ near π. The local Nu on inner tube outer surface increases along circumferential direction until it reaches a maximum value then it decreases again.     

Heat transfer analysis of receiver for large aperture parabolic trough solar collector

Parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC) is one of the most proven technologies for large‐scale solar thermal power generation. Currently, the cost of power generation from PTSC is expensive as compared with conventional power generation. The capital/power generation cost can be reduced by increasing aperture sizes of the collector. However, increase in aperture of the collector leads to higher heat flux on the absorber surface and results in higher thermal gradient. Hence, the analysis of heat distribution from the absorber to heat transfer fluid (HTF) and within the absorber is essential to identify the possibilities of failure of the receiver. In this article, extensive heat transfer analysis (HTA) of the receiver is performed for various aperture diameter of a PTSC using commercially available computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software ANSYS Fluent 19.0. The numerical simulations of the receiver are performed to analyze the temperature distribution around the circumference of the absorber tube as well as along the length of tube, the rate of heat transfer from the absorber tube to the HTF, and heat losses from the receiver for various geometric and operating conditions such as collector aperture diameter, mass flow rate, heat loss coefficient (HLC), HTF, and its inlet temperature. It is observed that temperature gradient around the circumference of the absorber and heat losses from the receiver increases with collector aperture. The temperature gradient around the circumference of the absorber tube wall at 2 m length from the inlet are observed as 11, 37, 48, 74, and 129 K, respectively, for 2.5‐, 5‐, 5.77‐, 7.5‐, and 10‐m aperture diameter of PTSC at mass flow rate of 1.25 kg/s and inlet temperature of 300 K for therminol oil as HTF. To minimize the thermal gradient around the absorber circumference, HTFs with better heat transfer characteristics are explored such as molten salt, liquid sodium, and NaK78. Liquid sodium offers a significant reduction in temperature gradient as compared of other HTFs for all the aperture sizes of the collector. It is found that the temperature gradient around the circumference of the absorber tube wall at a length of 2 m is reduced to 4, 8, 10, 13, and 18 K, respectively, for the above‐mentioned mass flow rate with liquid sodium as HTF. The analyses are also performed for different HTF inlet temperature in order to study the behavior of the receiver. Based on the HTA, it is desired to have larger aperture parabolic trough collector to generate higher temperature from the solar field and reduce the capital cost. To achieve higher temperature and better performance of the receiver, HTF with good thermophysical properties may be preferable to minimize the heat losses and thermal gradient around the circumference of the absorber tube.     

Thermal performance analysis of small-sized solar parabolic trough collector using secondary reflectors

ABSTRACT

In this paper, theoretical analysis of receiver tube misalignment, the design of secondary reflector and experimental analysis of a small-sized solar parabolic trough collector (PTC) with and without secondary reflectors are represented. Experimental analysis of PTC has been done using a parabolic secondary reflector (PSR) and triangular secondary reflector (TSR) and compared with PTC without secondary reflector (WSR). The maximum outlet temperature of heat transfer fluid is observed as 49.2°C, 47.3°C and 44.2°C in the case of PSR, TSR and WSR conditions, respectively. The maximum thermal efficiency of 24.3%, 22.5% and 17.8% is observed in the case of PSR, TSR and WSR conditions, respectively. The circumferential temperature difference on the outer surface of the receiver tube is obtained more uniform in the case of PSR and TSR than WSR condition. This indicates that the use of a secondary reflector can improve the performance of a solar PTC system.     

Three-dimensional numerical study of heat transfer characteristics in the receiver tube of parabolic trough solar collector

The solar energy flux distribution on the outer wall of the inner absorber tube of a parabolic solar collector receiver is calculated successfully by adopting the Monte Carlo Ray-Trace Method (MCRT Method). It is revealed that the non-uniformity of the solar energy flux distribution is very large. Three-dimensional numerical simulation of coupled heat transfer characteristics in the receiver tube is calculated and analyzed by combining the MCRT Method and the FLUENT software, in which the heat transfer fluid and physical model are Syltherm 800 liquid oil and LS2 parabolic solar collector from the testing experiment of Dudley et al., respectively. Temperature-dependent properties of the oil and thermal radiation between the inner absorber tube and the outer glass cover tube are also taken into account. Comparing with test results from three typical testing conditions, the average difference is within 2%. And then the mechanism of the coupled heat transfer in the receiver tube is further studied.     

Numerical simulation of a parabolic trough solar collector with nonuniform solar flux conditions by coupling FVM and MCRT method

In this paper, a more detailed three-dimensional computational model of the whole parabolic trough solar collector (PTC) system and corresponding numerical simulations by combining the Finite Volume Method (FVM) and the Monte Carlo Ray-Trace (MCRT) method were presented. Corresponding codes and solving methods were also developed and applied to simulate and analyze the total involuted photo-thermal conversion process of an experimental LS2 PTC system. The numerical results were compared with experimental data and good agreement was obtained, proving that the model and method used in the present study is feasible and reliable. More details of the characteristics of solar concentrating, solar collecting, fluid dynamics, coupled heat transfer and the whole flow and temperature fields in the receiver were also revealed and discussed. Then some typical heat transfer fluid (HTF) types and residual gas conditions were further studied. It was revealed that the properties of these HTFs/conditions and their varying relations of the fluid temperature affected the characteristics of fluid dynamics, coupled heat transfer and the whole temperature distributions in the receiver, thus affected the thermal loss and the collector efficiency synthetically.