Experimental performance analysis and optimisation of medium temperature solar thermal collectors with silicon oil as a heat transfer fluid

2011 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 570-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Nchelatebe Nkwetta ◽  
Mervyn Smyth ◽  
Aggelos Zacharopoulos ◽  
Trevor Hyde
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Performance Analysis ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Medium Temperature ◽  
Experimental Performance ◽  
Silicon Oil ◽  
Solar Thermal Collectors ◽  
Experimental Performance Analysis

scholarly journals Modification of a Solar Thermal Collector to Promote Heat Transfer inside an Evacuated Tube Solar Thermal Absorber

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 4100
Author(s):  
Rasa Supankanok ◽  
Sukanpirom Sriwong ◽  
Phisan Ponpo ◽  
Wei Wu ◽  
Walairat Chandra-ambhorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Pipe ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Medium Temperature ◽  
Change Behavior ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Evacuated Tube ◽  
Heating Medium

Evacuated-tube solar collector (ETSC) is developed to achieve high heating medium temperature. Heat transfer fluid contained inside a copper heat pipe directly affects the heating medium temperature. A 10 mol% of ethylene-glycol in water is the heat transfer fluid in this system. The purpose of this study is to modify inner structure of the evacuated tube for promoting heat transfer through aluminum fin to the copper heat pipe by inserting stainless-steel scrubbers in the evacuated tube to increase heat conduction surface area. The experiment is set up to measure the temperature of heat transfer fluid at a heat pipe tip which is a heat exchange area between heat transfer fluid and heating medium. The vapor/ liquid equilibrium (VLE) theory is applied to investigate phase change behavior of the heat transfer fluid. Mathematical model validated with 6 experimental results is set up to investigate the performance of ETSC system and evaluate the feasibility of applying the modified ETSC in small-scale industries. The results indicate that the average temperature of heat transfer fluid in a modified tube increased to 160.32 °C which is higher than a standard tube by approximately 22 °C leading to the increase in its efficiency by 34.96%.

scholarly journals Nanofluids in Solar Thermal Collectors: Review and Limitations

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ifeoluwa Wole-osho ◽  
Eric C. Okonkwo ◽  
Serkan Abbasoglu ◽  
Doga Kavaz
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Material Science ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Solar Collectors ◽  
Solar Thermal Collectors ◽  
Overall Efficiency ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Solar thermal collectors are systems that allow for the use of solar energy in thermal applications. These collectors utilize a heat transfer fluid to transport absorbed solar radiation to applications where they are needed. Scientists in a bid to improve the conversion efficiency of solar collectors have suggested different collector designs and improved collector materials. Over the last 25 years, the study of nanofluids and their applications have revolutionized material science, and nanotechnology has found applications in improving solar collector materials. This article reviews the impact of different nanomaterials on the efficiency of solar collectors. The study also outlines the limitations of applying nanofluids and discusses the long-term challenges of their application to solar collectors. Nanofluids have the potential to improve the overall efficiency of most solar collectors, however, the full potential of nanofluids in heat transfer applications cannot be completely achieved until some of the questions regarding hysteresis, stability, and the overall predictability of nanofluids are answered.

scholarly journals Experimental Investigation of a Medium Temperature Single-Phase Thermosyphon in an Evacuated Tube Receiver Coupled With Compound Parabolic Concentrator

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javed Akhter ◽  
S. I. Gilani ◽  
Hussain H. Al-Kayiem ◽  
Mubbashar Mehmood ◽  
Muzaffar Ali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Single Phase ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Outlet Temperature ◽  
Solar Thermal Energy ◽  
Medium Temperature ◽  
Temperature Range ◽  
Evacuated Tube

The integration of evacuated tube receivers with non-imaging compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs) operating in thermosyphon mode provides the opportunity to deliver solar thermal energy in the medium temperature range that is suitable for many industrial applications. However, the performance of single-phase thermosyphon in the medium temperature range has not been comprehensively investigated. This paper presents the design, development, and performance evaluation of a single-phase thermosyphon in an evacuated tube receiver integrated with a modified CPC solar collector. The thermohydraulic performance of the developed system is evaluated in the tropical climate using Therminol-55 oil as heat transfer fluid. The results demonstrate that the maximum outlet temperature reached over 120°C using thermal oil as heat transfer fluid while it remained at 100°C in case of water. The zero-loss thermal efficiency reached up to 70% on a clear sky day. Comparing the thermal performance of the developed CPC collector with an existing model of a non-concentrating collector showed much improvement at elevated temperatures. This indicates that this system can effectively operate in tropical weather conditions to provide sustainable solar thermal energy in the medium temperature range.

scholarly journals Comparison of Li2CO3-Na2CO3-K2CO3, KCl-MgCl2 and NaNO3-KNO3 as heat transfer fluid for different sCO2 and steam power cycles in CSP tower plant under different DNI conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 168781402110119
Author(s):  
Kamran Mahboob ◽  
Awais A Khan ◽  
Muhammad Adeel Khan ◽  
Jawad Sarwar ◽  
Tauseef A Khan
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Rankine Cycle ◽  
Capacity Factor ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Incident Power ◽  
Steam Power ◽  
Power Cycles ◽  
Plant Configuration

This work presents the characteristics of a solar thermal tower power plant in two different places (Seville and Dubai) using three different HTFs (NaNO3-KNO3, KCl-MgCl2 and Li2CO3-Na2CO3-K2CO3) and three different power cycles (Rankine, sCO2 Recompression and sCO2 Partial cooling cycles). An indirect configuration is considered for the Gemasolar power plant. Detailed modelling is carried out for the conversion of incident power on the heliostat to the output electricity. Optimization of the cycle is carried out to determine the most promising cycle configuration for efficiency. The results showed that for the Gemasolar power plant configuration, the performance of the KCl-MgCl2 based plant was poorest amongst all. NaNO3-KNO3 based plant has shown good performance with the Rankine cycle but plant having Li2CO3-Na2CO3-K2CO3 as HTF was best for all three cycles. Partial cooling was the best performing cycle at both locations with all three HTFs. Placing the Seville Plant in Dubai has improved the efficiency from 23.56% to 24.33%, a capacity factor improvement of 21 and 52 GW additional power is generated. The optimization of the plant in Dubai has shown further improvements. The efficiency is improved, the Capacity factor is increased by 31.2 and 77.8 GW of additional electricity is produced.

Central Receiver System Solar Power Plant Using Molten Salt as Heat Transfer Fluid

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ignacio Ortega ◽  
J. Ignacio Burgaleta ◽  
Félix M. Téllez
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Power Generation ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Solar Thermal Power ◽  
Central Receiver ◽  
Spanish Legislation ◽  
Solar Thermal Power Generation

Of all the technologies being developed for solar thermal power generation, central receiver systems (CRSs) are able to work at the highest temperatures and to achieve higher efficiencies in electricity production. The combination of this concept and the choice of molten salts as the heat transfer fluid, in both the receiver and heat storage, enables solar collection to be decoupled from electricity generation better than water∕steam systems, yielding high capacity factors with solar-only or low hybridization ratios. These advantages, along with the benefits of Spanish legislation on solar energy, moved SENER to promote the 17MWe Solar TRES plant. It will be the first commercial CRS plant with molten-salt storage and will help consolidate this technology for future higher-capacity plants. This paper describes the basic concept developed in this demonstration project, reviewing the experience accumulated in the previous Solar TWO project, and present design innovations, as a consequence of the development work performed by SENER and CIEMAT and of the technical conditions imposed by Spanish legislation on solar thermal power generation.

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