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Performance Evaluation of an Evacuated Tube Collector with a Low-Cost Diffuse Reflector

Author

Listed:
  • Julian Schumann

    (Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH), Am Ohrberg 1, 31860 Emmerthal, Germany)

  • Bert Schiebler

    (Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH), Am Ohrberg 1, 31860 Emmerthal, Germany)

  • Federico Giovannetti

    (Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH), Am Ohrberg 1, 31860 Emmerthal, Germany)

Abstract

In order to increase the overall solar energy gain of evacuated tube collectors, rear-side reflectors are used. In this way, the otherwise unused incident radiation between the tubes can be reflected back to the absorber, and the performance of the collector can be improved. In this paper, the use of a low-cost, diffusely reflecting, trapezoidal roof covering made from a galvanized metal sheet is investigated and compared to a high-quality, specularly reflecting plane reflector made of aluminum. For this purpose, ray-tracing analysis and TRNSYS simulations were carried out. In the ray-tracing analysis, the experimentally determined zero-loss collector efficiency η 0 as well as the incident angle modifiers for each reflector can be reproduced with an error lower than 7.5%. Thermal system simulations show that the performance of both reflectors is comparable. The use of the low-cost reflector leads to an increase in annual collector output of around 30% compared to an increase with the specular reflector of around 33%. Considering a typical domestic hot water system, both reflectors enable an increase in the solar annual yield of approx. 11%.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:24:p:8209-:d:696707
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    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. 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.
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    1. Nattapat Pongboriboon & Wei Wu & Walairat Chandra-ambhorn & Patthranit Wongpromrat & Eakarach Bumrungthaichaichan, 2023. "Simple Empirical Relation for an Evacuated-Tube Solar Collector Performance Prediction from Solar Intensity," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-19, August.

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