Thermodynamic Optimization of Solar-Driven Refrigerators

1996 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. V. C. Vargas ◽  
M. Sokolov ◽  
A. Bejan

This paper describes the thermodynamic optimization of a class of refrigerators without work input, which are driven by heat transfer from a solar collector. The model consists of a finite-size solar collector with heat loss to the ambient, and a refrigerator with three finite-size heat exchangers, namely, the evaporator between refrigeration load and refrigerant, the condenser between the refrigerant and the ambient, and the heat exchanger between the solar collector and the refrigerant. The total thermal conductance of the three heat exchangers is fixed. The solar collector heat loss to the ambient is proportional to the collector-ambient temperature difference. The first part of the paper reports the operating conditions for maximum refrigeration effect, specifically, the optimal collector temperature, and the optimal way of allocating the thermal conductance inventory to the three heat exchangers. For example, the optimal condenser conductance is equal to half of the total thermal conductance, and is independent of other operating parameters. The second part of the paper examines the changes in the optimal design when the price of the refrigeration load (pL) is different (higher) than the price of the heat input provided by the collector (pH). The optimal collector temperature and the optimal three-way allocation of the thermal conductance inventory are reported as functions of the price ratio pH/pL.

Author(s):  
Subhash C. Mullick ◽  
Suresh Kumar ◽  
Basant K. Chourasia

Upward heat losses have strong effect on the performance of flat plate solar collectors under different operating conditions. Suitable equations for estimation of top heat loss coefficient have already been proposed [1,2]. The top heat loss coefficient is a function of wind induced convective heat transfer coefficient in a flat plate solar collector. It is, therefore, important to choose appropriate values of this convective heat transfer coefficient for correct estimation of the top heat loss coefficient. Researchers [3–6] have suggested different wind speed based correlations for estimation of the wind induced convective heat transfer coefficient. These correlations give different values of wind heat transfer coefficient thus resulting in variation in values of the top heat loss coefficient of a solar collector under same operating conditions. In present study, an attempt has been made to measure and study the wind induced convective heat transfer coefficient from exposed flat horizontal surfaces in real wind. For this purpose, three unglazed test plates of similar construction and different sizes were employed. Experiments were conducted on the three test plates over rooftop of a building in built environment. From experimental data of the test plate, of size 925mm × 865mm × 2mm, a correlation between wind heat transfer coefficient and wind speed has been obtained by linear regression. The obtained correlation has also been compared with work of other researchers [3–6]. Results obtained from experimental data of the three test plates provide some interesting information about wind induced convective heat transfer coefficient.


2011 ◽  
Vol 354-355 ◽  
pp. 773-778
Author(s):  
Yue Wu Huang ◽  
De Xing Sun

The optimal performance of the solar-driven thermodynamics cycle system consisting of a solar collector and a four-temperature-level absorption refrigerator is investigated, based on the linear heat-loss model of a solar collector and the irreversible cycle model of a four-temperature-level absorption refrigerator. A fundamental optimum relation is derived, from which the optimum operating temperature of the solar collector, the maximum overall coefficient of performance and the corresponding coefficient of performance of the four-temperature-level refrigerator are determined. It is proven that the total thermal conductance of the heat exchangers must be divided optimally between the four heat exchangers. The effects of the cycle parameters on the optimum operating temperature of the solar collector and the performance of the system are discussed by detailed numerical examples. The results obtained can describe the optimal performance of solar-driven four-temperature-level refrigerator affected simultaneously by the internal and external irreversibilities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
Sakhr Mohammed Sultan ◽  
Chih Ping Tso ◽  
Ervina Efzan Mohd Noor ◽  
Fadhel Mustafa Ibrahim ◽  
Saqaff Ahmed Alkaff

Photovoltaic Thermal Solar Collector (PVT) is a hybrid technology used to produce electricity and heat simultaneously. Current enhancements in PVT are to increase the electrical and thermal efficiencies. Many PVT factors such as type of absorber, thermal conductivity, type of PV module and operating conditions are important parameters that can control the PVT performance. In this paper, an analytical model, using energy balance equations, is studied for PVT with an improved parallel flow absorber. The performance is calculated for a typical sunny weather in Malaysia. It was found that the maximum electrical and thermal efficiencies are 12.9 % and 62.6 %, respectively. The maximum outlet water temperature is 59 oC.


2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Young-Gil Park ◽  
Anthony M. Jacobi

The air-side thermal-hydraulic performance of flat-tube aluminum heat exchangers is studied experimentally for conditions typical to air-conditioning applications, for heat exchangers constructed with serpentine louvered, wavy, and plain fins. Using a closed-loop calorimetric wind tunnel, heat transfer and pressure drop are measured at air face velocities from 0.5 m/s to 2.8 m/s for dry- and wet-surface conditions. Parametric effects related to geometry and operating conditions on heat transfer and friction performance of the heat exchangers are explored. Significant differences in the effect of geometrical parameters are found for dry and wet conditions. For the louver-fin geometry, using a combined database from the present and the previous studies, empirical curve-fits for the Colburn j- and f-factors are developed in terms of a wet-surface multiplier. The wet-surface multiplier correlations fit the present database with rms relative residuals of 21.1% and 24.4% for j and f multipliers, respectively. Alternatively, stand-alone Colburn j and f correlations give rms relative residuals of 22.7% and 29.1%, respectively.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 42-64
Author(s):  
Boris Basok ◽  
Ihor Bozhko ◽  
Maryna Novitska ◽  
Aleksandr Nedbailo ◽  
Myroslav Tkachenko

This article is devoted to the analysis of the heat engineering characteristics of the operation of an Earth-to-Air Heat Exchanger, EAHE, with a circular cross-sectional shape, which is a component of the geothermal ventilation system. The authors analyzed literature sources devoted to the research of heat exchangers of the soil-air type of various designs and for working conditions in various soils. Much attention is paid to the issues of modeling the operation of such heat exchangers and the distinctive features of each of these models. Also important are the results of experimental studies carried out on our own experimental bench and with the help of which the numerical model was validated. The results of these studies are the basis for the development of a method for determining the optimal diameter of an EAHE under operating conditions for soil in Kyiv, Ukraine.


Author(s):  
O. Koshelnik ◽  
S. Hoisan

One of the ways to increase glass furnaces energy efficiency is to apply heat exchangers for flue gases thermal potential utilization. Flue gases losses is up to 25-40 % of the total amount of heat supplied in the furnace. These losses are influences by such factors as fuel type, furnace and burners design and manufactured product type. Regenerative heat exchangers with various types of heat storage packing is more efficient for high-power furnaces. Such types of regenerator checkerwork as Cowper checkerwork, two types of Siemens checkerwork, Lichte checkerwork and combined checkerwork have already been sufficiently researched, successfully applied and widely used for glass furnaces of various designs. All of its are made of standard refractory bricks. Basket checkerwork and cruciform checkerwork that are made of fused-cast molded refractory materials have been widely used recently as well. Further improvement of regenerative heat exchangers thermal efficiency only by replacing the checkerwork does not seem possible unless their size being increased. But this enlarging is not always realizable during the modernization of existing furnaces. From this point of view heat storage elements with a phase transition, where metal salts and their mixtures are used as a fusible agent look promising for glass furnaces. These elements can accumulate additional amount of heat due to phase transition, which allows to increase significantly heat exchanger thermal rating without its size and operating conditions changing. However, it is necessary to carry out additional studies of this type of checkerwork dealing with analysis of complex unsteady heat exchange processes in regenerators and selection of appropriate materials that satisfy the operating conditions of regenerative heat exchangers so that the checkerwork can be widely used for glass furnaces.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Essaied M Shuia ◽  
Bashir H Arebi ◽  
Ibrahim A abuashe

This paper presents the experimental data that was collected from small pilot solar chimney. The experimental data together with ambient conditions are used to evaluate the performance and study the behavior of the solar chimney; this data will be used for comparison with theoretical models in another paper [part II). The solar chimney prototype was designed and constructed at the Subrata Faculty of Engineering-Libya. The data were collected over several days of June 2011. The solar chimney system contains two main components; the solar collector and the solar chimney. The solar collector root‘ has a circular area of126 m3, the solar chimney is a PVC tube with internal diameter of 0.2 m and the total height of chimney is 9.3 m. The measurements include the intensity of solar radiation inside/outside the collector, temperature and velocity of air at the entrance of the chimney, temperature and speed of wind outside the collector, temperature of the ground inside collector al1d temperature measurements of air at speci?c points at different levels throughout the collector. Solar irradiance was found to affect the chimney temperature and subsequently affects chimney air velocity. The experimental results showed that temperature differences of (30 - 45°C) were recorded between the ambient temperature and that of air inside the chimney in the middle of the day, where the highest air temperature of 73.4°C was recorded at the entrance of the solar chimney. The maximum air velocity of 3.6 m/s was recorded inside the solar chimney at noon on 9 June. Wind speed outside the collector had a small effect on the speed of the air inside the chimney and tends to change slightly, hence, can neglect influence of wind speed on the performance of the system. Also the experimental results indicate that such type of system can trap a suf?cient amount of solar radiation, which elevates the air temperature to a suf?cient value able to generate enough air ?ow to operate a wind turbine to produce electricity; this means the solar chimney system for electricity production can work in the north-western part of Libya in the summer time at least.


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