IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v173y2021icp381-388.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimising the thickness of the water layer in a triangle solar thermal collector

Author

Listed:
  • Moldovan, Macedon
  • Rusea, Ioana
  • Visa, Ion

Abstract

Novel triangle solar thermal collectors with colored absorbers were developed to improve the solar thermal facades architectural acceptance. Besides their nonconventional shape and colors, the collectors have an internal cavity instead of pipes to support the water flow. After indoor testing in standard conditions (water, 0.001 kg/s, 1000 W/m2) the collectors showed color dependent nominal efficiencies ranging between 35 and 55%. To improve this efficiency, an optimization process is developed based on CFD simulations considering the mass flow rate and the thickness of the water layer as parameters. Thus, 3D models of the triangle collector with 20, 10 and 5 mm water layer thicknesses were prototyped using SolidWorks and transferred in Ansys Fluent where CFD simulations were performed. For each thickness, mass flow rates within the range 0.0005 … 0.05 kg/s were considered. The simulation model is experimentally validated on a collector having a water layer thickness of 20 mm in standard testing conditions. The simulation results show how the nominal efficiency can be increased from 55.74%, obtained for a standard mass flow rate and 20 mm water layer thickness, up to 66.12% for 0.01 kg/s mass flow rate and 5 mm water layer thickness.

Suggested Citation

  • Moldovan, Macedon & Rusea, Ioana & Visa, Ion, 2021. "Optimising the thickness of the water layer in a triangle solar thermal collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 381-388.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:173:y:2021:i:c:p:381-388
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2021.03.145
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148121005097
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2021.03.145?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. He, Wei & Hong, Xiaoqiang & Luo, Bingqing & Chen, Hongbing & Ji, Jie, 2016. "CFD and comparative study on the dual-function solar collectors with and without tile-shaped covers in water heating mode," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 1205-1214.
    2. Soteris A. Kalogirou, 2015. "Building integration of solar renewable energy systems towards zero or nearly zero energy buildings," International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, Oxford University Press, vol. 10(4), pages 379-385.
    3. Gunjo, Dawit Gudeta & Mahanta, Pinakeswar & Robi, Puthuveettil Sreedharan, 2017. "Exergy and energy analysis of a novel type solar collector under steady state condition: Experimental and CFD analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(PB), pages 655-669.
    4. Elguezabal, P. & Lopez, A. & Blanco, J.M. & Chica, J.A., 2020. "CFD model-based analysis and experimental assessment of key design parameters for an integrated unglazed metallic thermal collector façade," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 1766-1780.
    5. Gunjo, Dawit Gudeta & Mahanta, Pinakeswar & Robi, P.S., 2017. "CFD and experimental investigation of flat plate solar water heating system under steady state condition," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 24-36.
    6. Visa, Ion & Duta, Anca & Moldovan, Macedon, 2019. "Outdoor performance of a trapeze solar thermal collector for facades integration," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 37-44.
    7. Visa, Ion & Moldovan, Macedon & Duta, Anca, 2019. "Novel triangle flat plate solar thermal collector for facades integration," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 252-262.
    8. Selmi, Mohamed & Al-Khawaja, Mohammed J. & Marafia, Abdulhamid, 2008. "Validation of CFD simulation for flat plate solar energy collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 383-387.
    9. United Nations UN, 2015. "Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Working Papers id:7559, eSocialSciences.
    10. Lumbreras, Mikel & Garay, Roberto, 2020. "Energy & economic assessment of façade-integrated solar thermal systems combined with ultra-low temperature district-heating," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 1000-1014.
    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. Barone, Giovanni & Buonomano, Annamaria & Forzano, Cesare & Palombo, Adolfo, 2023. "Multi-objective optimization for comparative energy and economic analyses of a novel evacuated solar collector prototype (ICSSWH) under different weather conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 701-714.
    2. Herrando, María & Fantoni, Guillermo & Cubero, Ana & Simón-Allué, Raquel & Guedea, Isabel & Fueyo, Norberto, 2023. "Numerical analysis of the fluid flow and heat transfer of a hybrid PV-thermal collector and performance assessment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 122-132.

    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. Gunjo, Dawit Gudeta & Mahanta, Pinakeswar & Robi, Puthuveettil Sreedharan, 2017. "Exergy and energy analysis of a novel type solar collector under steady state condition: Experimental and CFD analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(PB), pages 655-669.
    2. Arabhosseini, Akbar & Samimi-Akhijahani, Hadi & Motahayyer, Mehrnosh, 2019. "Increasing the energy and exergy efficiencies of a collector using porous and recycling system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 308-325.
    3. Herrando, María & Fantoni, Guillermo & Cubero, Ana & Simón-Allué, Raquel & Guedea, Isabel & Fueyo, Norberto, 2023. "Numerical analysis of the fluid flow and heat transfer of a hybrid PV-thermal collector and performance assessment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 122-132.
    4. Farshad, Seyyed Ali & Sheikholeslami, M., 2019. "Nanofluid flow inside a solar collector utilizing twisted tape considering exergy and entropy analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 246-258.
    5. Gonzalo Sánchez-Barroso & Jaime González-Domínguez & Justo García-Sanz-Calcedo, 2020. "Potential Savings in DHW Facilities through the Use of Solar Thermal Energy in the Hospitals of Extremadura (Spain)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-16, April.
    6. Jianhao Sheng & Dianwei Qi & Hongchao Yan & Wanjiang Wang & Tao Wang, 2022. "Experimental Study on Low Carbonization of Green Building Based on New Membrane Structure Solar Sustainable Heat Collection," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-17, December.
    7. Wan Afin Fadzlin & Md. Hasanuzzaman & Nasrudin Abd Rahim & Norridah Amin & Zafar Said, 2022. "Global Challenges of Current Building-Integrated Solar Water Heating Technologies and Its Prospects: A Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-42, July.
    8. 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.
    9. Peru Elguezabal & Alex Lopez & Jesus Maria Blanco & Jose Antonio Chica, 2020. "Assessment on the Efficiency of an Active Solar Thermal Facade: Study of the Effect of Dynamic Parameters and Experimental Analysis When Coupled/Uncoupled to a Heat Pump," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-21, January.
    10. Zhou, Liqun & Wang, Yiping & Huang, Qunwu, 2019. "CFD investigation of a new flat plate collector with additional front side transparent insulation for use in cold regions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 754-763.
    11. Wang, Dengjia & Mo, Zhelong & Liu, Yanfeng & Ren, Yuchao & Fan, Jianhua, 2022. "Thermal performance analysis of large-scale flat plate solar collectors and regional applicability in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PC).
    12. Paulina Schiappacasse & Bernhard Müller & Le Thuy Linh, 2019. "Towards Responsible Aggregate Mining in Vietnam," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-15, August.
    13. Pina Puntillo, 2023. "Circular economy business models: Towards achieving sustainable development goals in the waste management sector—Empirical evidence and theoretical implications," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 941-954, March.
    14. R. Ebrahimi & S. Choobchian & H. Farhadian & I. Goli & E. Farmandeh & H. Azadi, 2022. "Investigating the effect of vocational education and training on rural women’s empowerment," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    15. Bárbara Galleli & Elder Semprebon & Joyce Aparecida Ramos dos Santos & Noah Emanuel Brito Teles & Mateus Santos de Freitas-Martins & Raquel Teodoro da Silva Onevetch, 2021. "Institutional Pressures, Sustainable Development Goals and COVID-19: How Are Organisations Engaging?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, November.
    16. Sagarika Dey & Priyanka Devi, 2019. "Impact of TVET on Labour Market Outcomes and Women’s Empowerment in Rural Areas: A Case Study from Cachar District, Assam," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 13(3), pages 357-371, December.
    17. Maria Sassi, 2020. "A SEM Approach to the Direct and Indirect Links between WaSH Services and Access to Food in Countries in Protracted Crises: The Case of Western Bahr-el-Ghazal State, South Sudan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-13, November.
    18. Olga Stepanova & Magdalena Romanov, 2021. "Urban Planning as a Strategy to Implement Social Sustainability Policy Goals? The Case of Temporary Housing for Immigrants in Gothenburg, Sweden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    19. Michel, Hanno, 2020. "From local to global: The role of knowledge, transfer, and capacity building for successful energy transitions," Discussion Papers, Research Group Digital Mobility and Social Differentiation SP III 2020-603, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    20. Hervé Corvellec & Johan Hultman & Anne Jerneck & Susanne Arvidsson & Johan Ekroos & Niklas Wahlberg & Timothy W. Luke, 2021. "Resourcification: A non‐essentialist theory of resources for sustainable development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(6), pages 1249-1256, November.

    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:173:y:2021:i:c:p:381-388. 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.