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Technical and economic analysis of a novel low-cost concentrated medium-temperature solar collector

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  • Bhusal, Yogesh
  • Hassanzadeh, Ali
  • Jiang, Lun
  • Winston, Roland

Abstract

In this manuscript, performance of a novel concentrated solar thermal collector with evacuated tube is studied. The focus is the optimization of cost and performance in respect to commercially available medium temperature collectors (100–300 °C) using thermal and economic index of heat generation system also known as Levelized Cost of Heat. In this project, Levelized Cost of Heat is optimized with material cost reduction while maintaining high thermal performance using economical aluminum fin (instead of copper), a glass cover and highly truncated aluminum reflector. The reflector is truncated using the nonimaging optics methods in order to maximize the optical efficiency while minimizing the material consumption. Also, in order to predict the thermal performance of the proposed collector, analytical and numerical simulation are studied. Finally, the collector is experimentally tested in three stages to measure maximum temperature, maximum efficiency and thermal efficiency at various temperature of heat transfer fluid. The mathematical, numerical and experimental results were found to have good agreement. The results indicate that the collector can operate with optical efficiency of 60%, maximum temperature of 350 °C, thermal efficiency of 51% and 42% at 100 °C and 200 °C respectively while the cost of energy is as low as 2.9 cents/kWh.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhusal, Yogesh & Hassanzadeh, Ali & Jiang, Lun & Winston, Roland, 2020. "Technical and economic analysis of a novel low-cost concentrated medium-temperature solar collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 968-985.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:146:y:2020:i:c:p:968-985
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.07.032
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Widyolar, Bennett & Jiang, Lun & Ferry, Jonathan & Winston, Roland, 2018. "Non-tracking East-West XCPC solar thermal collector for 200 celsius applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 521-533.
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    6. Mao, Chunliu & Li, Muran & Li, Na & Shan, Ming & Yang, Xudong, 2019. "Mathematical model development and optimal design of the horizontal all-glass evacuated tube solar collectors integrated with bottom mirror reflectors for solar energy harvesting," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 54-68.
    7. Abdelhamid, Mahmoud & Widyolar, Bennett K. & Jiang, Lun & Winston, Roland & Yablonovitch, Eli & Scranton, Gregg & Cygan, David & Abbasi, Hamid & Kozlov, Aleksandr, 2016. "Novel double-stage high-concentrated solar hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) collector with nonimaging optics and GaAs solar cells reflector," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 68-79.
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    5. Kumar, Laveet & Hasanuzzaman, M. & Rahim, N.A. & Islam, M.M., 2021. "Modeling, simulation and outdoor experimental performance analysis of a solar-assisted process heating system for industrial process heat," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 656-673.
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    7. Chalima, Angelina & Taxeidis, George & Topakas, Evangelos, 2020. "Optimization of the production of docosahexaenoic fatty acid by the heterotrophic microalga Crypthecodinium cohnii utilizing a dark fermentation effluent," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 102-109.

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