Testing and Analysis of a Heat-Pipe Solar Collector

1983 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 440-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ribot ◽  
R. D. McConnell
Keyword(s):  
Heat Pipe ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Heat Pipes ◽  
Solar Collectors ◽  
Empirical Tests ◽  
Heat Transfer System ◽  
Evacuated Tube ◽  
Glass Heat ◽  
Theoretical Analyses

We developed an integral heat-pipe/evacuated-tube solar collector in which the inner receiver tubes form the evaporator sections of glass heat pipes. This paper describes both theoretical analyses and empirical tests, comparing the performance of the glass heat-pipe solar collector with one of today’s high efficiency evacuated-tube solar collectors. The comparison demonstrates that the performance of the two collectors is effectively identical. The testing and analysis indicate that the glass-wick-type glass heat pipe is an effective heat transfer system for evacuated-tube solar collectors.

Parametric Study of a Flat Plate Wick Assisted Heat Pipe Solar Collector

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brahim Taoufik ◽  
Mhiri Foued ◽  
Jemni Abdelmajid
Keyword(s):  
Flat Plate ◽  
Heat Pipe ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Solar Collectors ◽  
Absorber Plate ◽  
Steady State Condition ◽  
Collector Efficiency ◽  
Evacuated Tube Collectors ◽  
Gap Spacing ◽  
Evacuated Tube

The use of heat pipes in solar collectors offers several advantages regarding flexibility in operation and application, as they are very efficient in transporting heat even under a small temperature difference. Compared with other systems powered by evacuated tube collectors or flat plate solar collectors using a wickless heat pipe, little attention has been paid to a flat plate solar collectors wick assisted heat pipe. In this paper an analytical model based on energy balance equations assuming a steady state condition was developed to evaluate the thermal efficiency of a flat plate wick assisted heat pipe solar collector. Parameters which affect the collector efficiency are identified, such as tube spacing distance, gap spacing between the absorber plate and the glazing cover, and the emissivity of the absorber plate. The results reflect the contribution and significance of each of these parameters to the collector overall heat loss coefficients. Three heat pipe working fluids are examined and results show that acetone performs better than methanol and ethanol.

scholarly journals Energy and exergy efficiency of heat pipe evacuated tube solar collectors

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 327-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzad Jafarkazemi ◽  
Emad Ahmadifard ◽  
Hossein Abdi
Keyword(s):  
Heat Pipe ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Theoretical Method ◽  
Exergy Efficiency ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Solar Collectors ◽  
Evacuated Tube Solar Collector ◽  
Energy And Exergy ◽  
Water Mass Flow Rate ◽  
Evacuated Tube

In this paper, a heat pipe evacuated tube solar collector has been investigated both theoretically and experimentally. A detailed theoretical method for energy and exergy analysis of the collector is provided. The method is also evaluated by experiments. The results showed a good agreement between the experiment and theory. Using the theoretical model, the effect of different parameters on the collector?s energy and exergy efficiency has been investigated. It is concluded that inlet water temperature, inlet water mass flow rate, the transmittance of tubes and absorptance of the absorber surface have a direct effect on the energy and exergy efficiency of the heat pipe evacuated tube solar collector. Increasing water inlet temperature in heat pipe evacuated solar collectors leads to a decrease in heat transfer rate between the heat pipe?s condenser and water.

A review on performance of nanofluids in various heat pipe solar collector

2021 ◽  
pp. 095440892110670
Author(s):  
N. Jayanthi ◽  
M. Venkatesh ◽  
R. Suresh Kumar ◽  
S. Sekar
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Heat Pipe ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Review Paper ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Heat Pipes ◽  
Solar Collectors ◽  
Major Disadvantage

Energy from the Sun brings as Solar energy which is abundantly available and utilized for various applications. Owing to the increase in energy demand, having a limit of non-renewable energy sources, more interest is given to Solar energy. One of the most fundamental applications of using Solar energy is a Solar collector. The efficiency of the Solar collector depends upon the fluids used in the Solar collector and thermal performance also can be enhanced by using heat pipes in the Solar collector. Compared to flat plate solar collectors, the major disadvantage of heat loss can be rectified in heat pipe solar collectors. Still, to improve the performance of heat pipe solar collectors, nanofluids can be used instead of base fluids to improve thermal performance. In this review paper, the application of nanofluid in Solar collectors results in the percentage of improvement in heat transfer by nanofluid at optimum condition is discussed. This paper reviewed widely the recent development and upcoming research that can be done to enhance the working of heat pipe Solar collectors using nanofluids.

Evacuated Tube Heat Pipe Solar Collectors Applied to Recirculation Loop in a Federal Building: SSA Philadelphia

Solar Energy ◽  
2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Walker ◽  
Fariborz Mahjouri ◽  
Robert Stiteler
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Heat Pipe ◽  
Heat Loss ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Solar Array ◽  
Solar Collectors ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Evacuated Tube ◽  
Recirculation Loop

This paper describes design, simulation, construction and measured initial performance of a solar water heating system (360 Evacuated Heat-Pipe Collector tubes, 54 m2 gross area, 36 m2 net absorber area) installed at the top of the hot water recirculation loop in the Social Security Mid-Atlantic Center in Philadelphia. Water returning to the hot water storage tank is heated by the solar array when solar energy is available. This new approach, as opposed to the more conventional approach of preheating incoming water, is made possible by the thermal diode effect of heat pipes and low heat loss from evacuated tube solar collectors. The simplicity of this approach and its low installation costs makes the deployment of solar energy in existing commercial buildings more attractive, especially where the roof is far removed from the water heating system, which is often in the basement. Initial observed performance of the system is reported. Hourly simulation estimates annual energy delivery of 111 GJ/year of solar heat and that the annual efficiency (based on the 54 m2 gross area) of the solar collectors is 41%, and that of the entire system including parasitic pump power, heat loss due to freeze protection, and heat loss from connecting piping is 34%. Annual average collector efficiency based on a net aperture area of 36 m2 is 61.5% according to the hourly simulation.

Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of a Heat Pipe Evacuated Tube Solar Collector Integrated With Phase Change Material

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivek R. Pawar ◽  
Sarvenaz Sobhansarbandi
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Heat Pipe ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Real Field ◽  
Evacuated Tube Solar Collector ◽  
Evacuated Tube

Abstract The increase in greenhouse gas and other global warming emissions makes it necessary to utilize renewable energy sources such as solar energy with high potential for heat production by means of solar thermal collectors. Among various types of solar collectors, evacuated tube solar collector (ETC) has attracted many attentions specially for the application in solar water heater systems (SWHs). However, due to the intermittence in solar intensity during the day, the ETCs may not work at their maximum functionality. There are number of studies investigating the effect of energy storage materials to eliminate the mismatch between supply and demand during peak hours. In the recent work of the authors, application of phase change materials (PCMs) integrated directly within the ETCs is studied experimentally. In this study, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of heat pipe evacuated tube solar collector (HPETC) is performed. In order to cross-validate the obtained results to the recent experimental analysis, the boundary conditions are set as the real field-testing data. In the first part of the study, the 3D model of commercially available HPETC is simulated, while in the second part the HPETC integrated with the PCM is developed to analyze the improved thermal distribution. The selected type of PCM is Tritriacontane paraffin (C33H68), with a melting point of 72 °C and latent heat capacity of 256 kJ/kg. The simulation results show a acceptable agreement between the CFD modeling and the experimental data. The results from this study can be the benchmark for efficiency improvement of the ETCs in thermal energy storage systems.

Experimental Investigation of a New Flat Plate Solar Heat Collector by Micro Heat Pipe Array

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yao-Hua Zhao ◽  
Fei-Long Zou ◽  
Yan-Hua Diao ◽  
Zhen-Hua Quan
Keyword(s):  
Flat Plate ◽  
Heat Pipe ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Heat Pipes ◽  
Total Heat Loss ◽  
Solar Heat ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Micro Heat Pipe ◽  
Heat Collector ◽  
Micro Heat Pipes

The performance of a new flat plate solar heat collector with perfect combination of high efficiency and low cost is investigated experimentally. The new system described in this study uses a novel micro heat pipe array as a key component for the system. One such flat plate heat collector contains over 300 micro heat pipes per 1m2 and the hydraulic diameter of the micro heat pipes is 0.4–1.0mm. A detailed heat transfer experimental study is conducted during daylight hours over several months, focusing on the collector efficiency and overall efficiency of the system as well as total heat loss factor. The results show that the collector’s maximum instantaneous efficiency is up to 88%. Compared with conventional evacuated glass tube solar water heater, the system offers the additional benefits of high pressure resistance, low weight, good reliability and durability, easy integration into buildings and absence of freezing during winter months. Besides, compared with traditional flat-plate solar water system which is mainly sheet-and-tube concept, the system also shows many advantages: higher efficiency, much cheaper, absence of tube-bonding and freezing etc. Therefore, the system proposes a unique substitute to common solar water heating systems.

scholarly journals Nanofluids and heat pipe limitations

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 298-304
Author(s):  
Maroua Mekcem
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Pipe ◽  
Energy Input ◽  
Historical Perspective ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Heat Pipes ◽  
General Description ◽  
External Energy ◽  
Evaporation And Condensation ◽  
Physical Phenomena

Given the high efficiency of heat pipes as heat transfer devices, which work with phase changing principle (evaporation and condensation) and without requiring any external energy input, the heat pipes have been utilized for many years in several areas. However, heat transfer in heat pipes is limited by physical phenomena which appear during its operation, called heat pipe limitations; these can limit and reduce its performance. At this state, the use of nanofluids instead of conventional fluids come a solution after that Choi and Eastman (1995) confirmed the feasibility of enhancing the thermal conductivity of fluids by adding nanoparticles. This paper represents a general description of heat pipes, including a brief historical perspective, principle of operation and explanation of main heat transfer limitations. The work shows the contribution of nanofluids in pushing back the heat pipe limitations.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document