Computational Heat Transfer Analysis of the Effect of Skirts on the Performance of Third-World Cookstoves

2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Wohlgemuth ◽  
Sandip Mazumder ◽  
Dale Andreatta
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Thermal Efficiency ◽  
Third World ◽  
Heat Transfer Analysis ◽  
Vertical Position ◽  
Dynamics Model ◽  
Unknown Parameters ◽  
Insulating Layer ◽  
Computational Predictions

In many developing countries, natural gas, wood, or biomass fired cookstoves find prolific usage. Skirts, placed around the cookpot, have been proposed as a means to improve the thermal efficiency. However, use of skirts has shown conflicting results, and the role of skirts is poorly understood. In this study, a computational heat transfer analysis of a generic third-world cookstove is conducted with the goal to understand the effect of various skirt-related parameters on the overall heat transfer characteristics and thermal efficiency. A computational fluid dynamics model, including turbulence and heat transfer by all three modes, was created. The model was first validated against the experimental data, also collected as part of this study. Unknown parameters in the model were calibrated to better match the experimental observations. Subsequently, the model was explored to study the effects of several skirt-related parameters. These include the vertical position of the skirt, the width of the gap between the skirt and the cookpot, and the thermal conductivity of the skirt (insulating versus conducting material). The computational predictions suggest that the skirt must either be made out of an insulating material or insulated on the outer surface by a backing insulating layer for it to provide maximum benefits. It was also found that it must be placed at an optimum distance away from the cookpot and aligned with the mouth of the cookstove chimney for maximum thermal efficiency. An optimum set of conditions obtained through this computational analysis resulted in an increase in the thermal efficiency from 20.7% to 28.7%.

Computational Heat Transfer Analysis and Design of Third-World Cookstoves

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Wohlgemuth ◽  
Sandip Mazumder ◽  
Dale Andreatta
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Thermal Efficiency ◽  
Third World ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Heat Transfer Analysis ◽  
Vertical Position ◽  
Conducting Material ◽  
Unknown Parameters ◽  
Analysis And Design ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd

In many developing countries, natural gas, wood, or biomass fired cookstoves find prolific usage. These cookstoves are constructed without paying much too attention to their thermal efficiency. In this study, a computational heat transfer analysis of a generic third-world cookstove is conducted with the goal to understand the effect of various operating conditions and geometric parameters on the overall heat transfer characteristics and thermal efficiency. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model, including turbulence and heat transfer by all three modes, was first created. The model was first validated against experimental data, also collected as part of this study. Unknown parameters in the model were calibrated to better match experimental observations. It is generally believed that placing a skirt around the stove and cook-pot enhances thermal efficiency. The model was explored to study the effects several skirt-related parameters. These include the vertical position of the skirt, the width of the gap between the skirt and the cook-pot, and the thermal conductivity of the skirt (insulating vs. conducting material). It was found that the skirt must either be made out of an insulating material or insulated on the outer surface for it to provide maximum benefits. It was also found that it must be placed at an optimum distance away from the cook-pot for maximum thermal efficiency.

Heat Transfer Analysis of a Novel Pressurized Air Receiver for Concentrated Solar Power via Combined Cycles

2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Hischier ◽  
D. Hess ◽  
W. Lipiński ◽  
M. Modest ◽  
A. Steinfeld
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Thermal Efficiency ◽  
Porous Ceramic ◽  
Conservation Equation ◽  
Heat Transfer Analysis ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
Small Aperture ◽  
Solar Absorber ◽  
Energy Conservation Equation ◽  
Combined Cycles

A novel design of a high-temperature pressurized solar air receiver for power generation via combined Brayton–Rankine cycles is proposed. It consists of an annular reticulate porous ceramic (RPC) bounded by two concentric cylinders. The inner cylinder, which serves as the solar absorber, has a cavity-type configuration and a small aperture for the access of concentrated solar radiation. Absorbed heat is transferred by conduction, radiation, and convection to the pressurized air flowing across the RPC. A 2D steady-state energy conservation equation coupling the three modes of heat transfer is formulated and solved by the finite volume technique and by applying the Rosseland diffusion, P1, and Monte Carlo radiation methods. Key results include the temperature distribution and thermal efficiency as a function of the geometrical and operational parameters. For a solar concentration ratio of 3000 suns, the outlet air temperature reaches 1000°C at 10 bars, yielding a thermal efficiency of 78%.

Heat Transfer Analysis of a Novel Pressurized Air Receiver for Concentrated Solar Power Via Combined Cycles

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Illias Hischier ◽  
Daniel Hess ◽  
Wojciech Lipin´ski ◽  
Michael Modest ◽  
Aldo Steinfeld
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Thermal Efficiency ◽  
Porous Ceramic ◽  
Conservation Equation ◽  
Heat Transfer Analysis ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
Small Aperture ◽  
Solar Absorber ◽  
Energy Conservation Equation ◽  
Combined Cycles

A novel design of a high-temperature pressurized solar air receiver for power generation via combined Brayton-Rankine cycles is proposed. It consists of an annular reticulate porous ceramic (RPC) bounded by two concentric cylinders. The inner cylinder, which serves as the solar absorber, has a cavity-type configuration and a small aperture for the access of concentrated solar radiation. Absorbed heat is transferred by conduction, radiation, and convection to the pressurized air flowing across the RPC. A 2D steady-state energy conservation equation coupling the three modes of heat transfer is formulated and solved by the finite volume technique and by applying the Rosseland diffusion, P1, and Monte Carlo radiation methods. Key results include the temperature distribution and the thermal efficiency as a function of the geometrical and operational parameters. For a solar concentration ratio of 3000 suns, the outlet air temperature reaches 1000°C at 10 bars, yielding a thermal efficiency of 78%.

Applicability of Heat Mirrors in Reducing Thermal Losses in Concentrating Solar Collectors

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prashant Mahendra ◽  
Vikrant Khullar ◽  
Madhup Mittal
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Thermal Efficiency ◽  
Solar Irradiance ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Flux Distribution ◽  
Heat Transfer Analysis ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Solar Collectors ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Glass Envelope

Flux distribution around the parabolic trough receiver being typically non-uniform, only a certain portion of the receiver circumference receives the concentrated solar irradiance. However, radiative and convective losses occur across the entire receiver circumference. This paper attempts to introduce the idea employing transparent heat mirror to effectively reduce the heat loss area and thus improve the thermal efficiency of the solar collector. Transparent heat mirror essentially has high transmissivity in the solar irradiance wavelength band and high reflectivity in the mid-infrared region thus it allows the solar irradiance to pass through but reflects the infrared radiation back to the solar selective metal tube. Practically, this could be realized if certain portion of the conventional low iron glass envelope is coated with Sn-In2O3 so that its acts as a heat mirror. In the present study, a parabolic receiver design employing the aforesaid concept has been proposed. Detailed heat transfer model has been formulated. The results of the model were compared with the experimental results of conventional concentrating parabolic trough solar collectors in the literature. It was observed that while maintaining the same external conditions (such as ambient/initial temperatures, wind speed, solar insolation, flow rate, concentration ratio etc.) the heat mirror-based parabolic trough concentrating solar collector has about 3–12% higher thermal efficiency as compared to the conventional parabolic solar collector. Furthermore, steady state heat transfer analysis reveals that depending on the solar flux distribution there is an optimum circumferential angle (θ = θoptimum, where θ is the heat mirror circumferential angle) up to which the glass envelope should be coated with Sn-In2O3. For angles higher than the optimum angle, the collector efficiency tends to decrease owing to increase in optical losses.

Applicability of Heat Mirrors in Reducing Thermal Losses in Concentrating Solar Collectors

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikrant Khullar ◽  
Prashant Mahendra ◽  
Madhup Mittal
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Thermal Efficiency ◽  
Heat Transfer Analysis ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Receiver Design ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Coated Glass ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
Steady State Heat Transfer ◽  
Glass Envelope

Abstract In the present work, a novel parabolic trough receiver design has been proposed. The proposed design is similar to the conventional receiver design except for the envelope and the annulus part. Here, a certain portion of the conventional glass envelope is coated with Sn-In2O3 and also Sn-In2O3 coated glass baffles are provided in the annulus part to reduce the radiative losses. The optical properties of the coated glass are such that it allows most of the solar irradiance to pass through, but reflects the emitted long wavelength radiations back to the absorber tube. Sn-In2O3 coated glass is referred to as “transparent heat mirror.” Thus, effectively reducing the heat loss area and improving the thermal efficiency of the solar collector. A detailed one-dimensional steady-state heat transfer model has been developed to predict the performance of the proposed receiver design. It was observed that while maintaining the same external conditions (such as ambient/initial temperatures, wind speed, solar insolation, flow rate, and concentration ratio), the heat mirror-based parabolic trough receiver design has about 3–5% higher thermal efficiency as compared to the conventional receiver design. Furthermore, the heat transfer analysis reveals that depending on the spatial incident solar flux distribution, there is an optimum circumferential angle (θ = θoptimum, where θ is the heat mirror circumferential angle) up to which the glass envelope should be coated with Sn-In2O3. For angles higher than the optimum angle, the collector efficiency tends to decrease owing to increase in optical losses.

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