IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v153y2020icp155-167.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Analyzing thermal properties of solar evacuated tube arrays coupled with mini-compound parabolic concentrator

Author

Listed:
  • Xia, En-Tong
  • Chen, Fei

Abstract

Effective utilization of solar energy resource enables to improve the thermal performance of solar evacuated tube. In present work, the back side of solar vacuum tube was coupled with mini-compound parabolic concentrator (mini-CPC). The thermal characteristics of the presented mini-CPC solar vacuum tube were analyzed theoretically and experimentally. A mathematical model of heat transfer for the mini-CPC vacuum tube was established according to the energy conservation, and solved by iterative calculation based on home-built C programming language. The obtained numerical solutions fit in well with the experimental results. Furthermore, analysis indicates the vacuum interlayer plays a crucial role in hindering heat transfer. The thermal-convection resistance (Rco-air,conv) dominates the heat loss from cover tube to ambient rather than thermal-radiation resistance (Rco-sky,rad). The measured final temperature increment of working water for the mini-CPC and ordinary evacuated tube can reach 63.4 K and 49.8 K, respectively. An experimental result also reveals that the thermal efficiency of the mini-CPC vacuum tube is increased by 24.3%–29.2% compared with that of vacuum tube without mini-CPC, considering various weather conditions. Consequently, the designed mini-CPC evacuated tube shows a preferable performance, which may provide a certain reference in technology for engineering applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Xia, En-Tong & Chen, Fei, 2020. "Analyzing thermal properties of solar evacuated tube arrays coupled with mini-compound parabolic concentrator," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 155-167.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:153:y:2020:i:c:p:155-167
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.02.011
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096014812030197X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2020.02.011?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Milani, Dia & Abbas, Ali, 2016. "Multiscale modeling and performance analysis of evacuated tube collectors for solar water heaters using diffuse flat reflector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 360-374.
    2. Osório, T. & Horta, P. & Marchã, J. & Collares-Pereira, M., 2019. "One-Sun CPC-type solar collectors with evacuated tubular receivers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 247-257.
    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.
    4. Li, Lu & Sun, Jie & Li, Yinshi & He, Ya-Ling & Xu, Haojie, 2019. "Transient characteristics of a parabolic trough direct-steam-generation process," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 800-810.
    5. Dai, Y.J. & Hu, H.M. & Ge, T.S. & Wang, R.Z. & Kjellsen, Per, 2016. "Investigation on a mini-CPC hybrid solar thermoelectric generator unit," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 83-94.
    6. Kabeel, A.E. & Khalil, A. & Elsayed, S.S. & Alatyar, A.M., 2015. "Modified mathematical model for evaluating the performance of water-in-glass evacuated tube solar collector considering tube shading effect," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 24-34.
    7. Korres, Dimitrios & Tzivanidis, Christos, 2018. "A new mini-CPC with a U-type evacuated tube under thermal and optical investigation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(PB), pages 529-540.
    8. Tang, Runsheng & Gao, Wenfeng & Yu, Yamei & Chen, Hua, 2009. "Optimal tilt-angles of all-glass evacuated tube solar collectors," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(9), pages 1387-1395.
    9. Sabiha, M.A. & Saidur, R. & Mekhilef, Saad & Mahian, Omid, 2015. "Progress and latest developments of evacuated tube solar collectors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1038-1054.
    10. Xu, Ruihua & Tang, Runsheng & Mawire, Ashmore, 2019. "A mathematical procedure to predict optical efficiency of CPCs with tubular absorbers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 187-200.
    11. Das, Dudul & Kalita, Pankaj & Roy, Omkar, 2018. "Flat plate hybrid photovoltaic- thermal (PV/T) system: A review on design and development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 111-130.
    12. Ge, T.S. & Wang, R.Z. & Xu, Z.Y. & Pan, Q.W. & Du, S. & Chen, X.M. & Ma, T. & Wu, X.N. & Sun, X.L. & Chen, J.F., 2018. "Solar heating and cooling: Present and future development," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 1126-1140.
    13. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Deng, Cheng-gang & Chen, Fei, 2021. "Model verification and photo-thermal conversion assessment of a novel facade embedded compound parabolic concentrator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    2. Li, Yongcai & Jiao, Feng & Chen, Fei & Zhang, Zhenhua, 2021. "Design optimization and optical performance analysis on multi-sectioned compound parabolic concentrator with plane absorber," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 913-926.
    3. Chen, Xinge & Liang, Hao & Wu, Gang & Feng, Chaoqing & Tao, Tao & Ji, Yaning & Ma, Qianlei & Tong, Yuxin, 2023. "Coupled heat and humidity control system of narrow-trough solar collector and solid desiccant in Chinese solar greenhouse: Analysis of optical / thermal characteristics and experimental study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    4. Yuan, Yu & Wu, Gang & Yang, Qichang & Cheng, Ruifeng & Tong, Yuxin & Zhang, Yi & Fang, Hui & Ma, Qianlei, 2021. "Experimental and analytical optical-thermal performance of evacuated cylindrical tube receiver for solar dish collector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    5. Xia, En-Tong & Xu, Jin-Tao & Chen, Fei, 2021. "Investigation on structural and optical characteristics for an improved compound parabolic concentrator based on cylindrical absorber," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li, Qiong & Gao, Wenfeng & Lin, Wenxian & Liu, Tao & Zhang, Yougang & Ding, Xiang & Huang, Xiaoqiao & Liu, Wuming, 2020. "Experiment and simulation study on convective heat transfer of all-glass evacuated tube solar collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 1129-1139.
    2. 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.
    3. Osório, T. & Horta, P. & Marchã, J. & Collares-Pereira, M., 2019. "One-Sun CPC-type solar collectors with evacuated tubular receivers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 247-257.
    4. Zhang, Xueyan & Gao, Teng & Liu, Yang & Chen, Fei, 2023. "Construction and concentrating performance of a critically truncated compound parabolic concentrator without light escape," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    5. Chen, Xiaomeng & Yang, Xudong & Li, Muran, 2022. "Combining horizontal evacuated tubes with booster mirror reflector to achieve seasonal reverse output: Technical and experimental investigation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 450-464.
    6. Chen, Xiaomeng & Wang, Yang & Yang, Xudong, 2023. "New biaxial approach to evaluate the optical performance of evacuated tube solar thermal collector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    7. Cui, Yuanlong & Zhu, Jie & Zoras, Stamatis & Zhang, Jizhe, 2021. "Comprehensive review of the recent advances in PV/T system with loop-pipe configuration and nanofluid," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    8. Walmsley, Timothy Gordon & Philipp, Matthias & Picón-Núñez, Martín & Meschede, Henning & Taylor, Matthew Thomas & Schlosser, Florian & Atkins, Martin John, 2023. "Hybrid renewable energy utility systems for industrial sites: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    9. Gui, Qinghua & Chen, Fei & Liu, Yang & Luo, Huilong, 2023. "Preliminary study on photo-thermal conversion investigation of compound parabolic concentrator for eliminate light escape in vacuum tube interlayer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    10. Julian Schumann & Bert Schiebler & Federico Giovannetti, 2021. "Performance Evaluation of an Evacuated Tube Collector with a Low-Cost Diffuse Reflector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-16, December.
    11. Liu, Zhijian & Liu, Yuanwei & He, Bao-Jie & Xu, Wei & Jin, Guangya & Zhang, Xutao, 2019. "Application and suitability analysis of the key technologies in nearly zero energy buildings in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 329-345.
    12. Fathabadi, Hassan, 2020. "Novel solar collector: Evaluating the impact of nanoparticles added to the collector’s working fluid, heat transfer fluid temperature and flow rate," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 1165-1173.
    13. Singh, Inderjeet & Vardhan, Sachit, 2021. "Experimental investigation of an evacuated tube collector solar air heater with helical inserts," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 1963-1972.
    14. Herrando, M. & Coca-Ortegón, A. & Guedea, I. & Fueyo, N., 2023. "Experimental validation of a solar system based on hybrid photovoltaic-thermal collectors and a reversible heat pump for the energy provision in non-residential buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    15. María Herrando & Alba Ramos, 2022. "Photovoltaic-Thermal (PV-T) Systems for Combined Cooling, Heating and Power in Buildings: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-28, April.
    16. Arun Uniyal & Yogesh K. Prajapati & Lalit Ranakoti & Prabhakar Bhandari & Tej Singh & Brijesh Gangil & Shubham Sharma & Viyat Varun Upadhyay & Sayed M. Eldin, 2022. "Recent Advancements in Evacuated Tube Solar Water Heaters: A Critical Review of the Integration of Phase Change Materials and Nanofluids with ETCs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-25, November.
    17. Li, Yongcai & Jiao, Feng & Chen, Fei & Zhang, Zhenhua, 2021. "Design optimization and optical performance analysis on multi-sectioned compound parabolic concentrator with plane absorber," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 913-926.
    18. Korres, Dimitrios N. & Tzivanidis, Christos, 2022. "A novel asymmetric compound parabolic collector under experimental and numerical investigation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 1580-1592.
    19. Jowzi, Mohammad & Veysi, Farzad & Sadeghi, Gholamabbas, 2018. "Novel experimental approaches to investigate distribution of solar insolation around the tubes in evacuated tube solar collectors," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 724-732.
    20. Sokhansefat, Tahmineh & Kasaeian, Alibakhsh & Rahmani, Kiana & Heidari, Ameneh Haji & Aghakhani, Faezeh & Mahian, Omid, 2018. "Thermoeconomic and environmental analysis of solar flat plate and evacuated tube collectors in cold climatic conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 501-508.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:153:y:2020:i:c:p:155-167. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.