A three-dimensional performance analysis of all-glass vacuum tubes with coaxial fluid conduit

The thermal performance of a solar system composed of parallel, all-glass (double skin) vacuum tubes has been investigated by using a three-dimensional analytical model. Each vacuum tube is equipped with a coaxial fluid conduit for water to flow through and collect the sun's thermal energy. The space between the exterior of the fluid conduit and the glass tube is filled with antifreeze solution to facilitate heat transfer from the solar heated absorber surface to water and to prevent the functional problems due to freezing in frigid weather conditions. Different from one-dimensional analytical models, the three-dimensional model considered in the present analysis enables the prediction of spatial variation of water temperatures as it flows through the coaxial conduit. This is quite useful in extracting major variables for the operation of the solar system using all-glass vacuum tubes as considered in the present investigation.