IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v15y2022i21p7868-d951315.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Investigation of Heat Transfer Fluids Using a Solar Concentrator for Medium Temperature Storage Receiver Systems and Applications

Author

Listed:
  • Pawan Kumar Kuldeep

    (Department of Physics, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302015, India)

  • Sandeep Kumar

    (Department of Physics, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302015, India)

  • Mohammed Saquib Khan

    (Materials Research Centre, MNIT, Jaipur 302017, India)

  • Hitesh Panchal

    (Mechanical Engineering Department, Government Engineering College, Patan 384265, India)

  • Ashmore Mawire

    (Department of Physics and Electronics, Material Science, Innovation and Modelling (MaSIM) Research Focus Area, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa)

  • Sunita Mahavar

    (Department of Physics, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302015, India)

Abstract

Solar concentrator collectors have the potential of meeting the medium- and high-temperature thermal energy demands of the world. A heat transfer fluid (HTF) is a vital component of a concentrating system to transfer and store thermal energy. This paper presents the design development of a solar paraboloidal dish concentrator (SPDC) and a study of selected HTFs using the storage receiver system of the concentrator. The locally designed SPDC (diameter 1.21 m and height 0.20 m) has features like light weight, effortless tracking, convenient transportation along with high optical and thermal performance. Three HTFs, silicone oil (SO), engine oil (EO) and ethylene glycol (EG), are selected based on their favorable properties for medium temperature (150–300 °C) applications. The characteristic parameters of HTFs, heating rate ( R h ), instant thermal efficiency ( η ith ) and the overall heat loss coefficient ( U L ), are illustrated and determined experimentally. A new characteristic parameter, the normalized maximum fluid temperature ( T nf ), is also introduced in the paper. In the heating test, the maximum attained temperatures by fluids, SO, EO and EG are found to be 240 °C, 180 °C and 160 °C, respectively. The thermal efficiencies of SO, EO and EG are determined to be 45, 36 and 31%, respectively. The heating rate of 6.56 °C/s is found to be the maximum for SO. Through the cooling test, the overall heat loss coefficient ( U L ) is computed to be 14 W/mK, which is the least among the three fluids compared. The high thermal performance, environmental safety and chemical stability of silicone oil make it suitable for use in concentrators for medium-temperature heat transfer and storage applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Pawan Kumar Kuldeep & Sandeep Kumar & Mohammed Saquib Khan & Hitesh Panchal & Ashmore Mawire & Sunita Mahavar, 2022. "Investigation of Heat Transfer Fluids Using a Solar Concentrator for Medium Temperature Storage Receiver Systems and Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-16, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:21:p:7868-:d:951315
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/21/7868/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/21/7868/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Peng, Qiang & Ding, Jing & Wei, Xiaolan & Yang, Jianping & Yang, Xiaoxi, 2010. "The preparation and properties of multi-component molten salts," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(9), pages 2812-2817, September.
    2. Benoit, H. & Spreafico, L. & Gauthier, D. & Flamant, G., 2016. "Review of heat transfer fluids in tube-receivers used in concentrating solar thermal systems: Properties and heat transfer coefficients," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 298-315.
    3. Zaharil, H.A. & Hasanuzzaman, M., 2020. "Modelling and performance analysis of parabolic trough solar concentrator for different heat transfer fluids under Malaysian condition," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 22-41.
    4. Hassan, Atazaz & Quanfang, Chen & Abbas, Sajid & Lu, Wu & Youming, Luo, 2021. "An experimental investigation on thermal and optical analysis of cylindrical and conical cavity copper tube receivers design for solar dish concentrator," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1849-1864.
    5. Vignarooban, K. & Xu, Xinhai & Arvay, A. & Hsu, K. & Kannan, A.M., 2015. "Heat transfer fluids for concentrating solar power systems – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 383-396.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Starke, Allan R. & Cardemil, José M. & Bonini, Vinicius R.B. & Escobar, Rodrigo & Castro-Quijada, Matías & Videla, Álvaro, 2024. "Assessing the performance of novel molten salt mixtures on CSP applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 359(C).
    2. Yılmaz, İbrahim Halil & Mwesigye, Aggrey & Kılıç, Fatih, 2023. "Prioritization of heat transfer fluids in parabolic trough solar systems using CFD-assisted AHP-VIKOR approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 751-768.
    3. Peiró, Gerard & Prieto, Cristina & Gasia, Jaume & Jové, Aleix & Miró, Laia & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2018. "Two-tank molten salts thermal energy storage system for solar power plants at pilot plant scale: Lessons learnt and recommendations for its design, start-up and operation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 236-248.
    4. Wang, Wujun & Fan, Liwu & Laumert, Björn, 2021. "A theoretical heat transfer analysis of different indirectly-irradiated receiver designs for high-temperature concentrating solar power applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 1983-1993.
    5. Du, Lichan & Ding, Jing & Tian, Heqing & Wang, Weilong & Wei, Xiaolan & Song, Ming, 2017. "Thermal properties and thermal stability of the ternary eutectic salt NaCl-CaCl2-MgCl2 used in high-temperature thermal energy storage process," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 1225-1230.
    6. Wei, Xiaolan & Qin, Bo & Yang, Chuntao & Wang, Weilong & Ding, Jing & Wang, Yan & Peng, Qiang, 2019. "Nox emission of ternary nitrate molten salts in high-temperature heat storage and transfer process," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C), pages 147-154.
    7. Zaharil, Hafiz Aman, 2021. "An investigation on the usage of different supercritical fluids in parabolic trough solar collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 676-691.
    8. Ding, Jing & Du, Lichan & Pan, Gechuanqi & Lu, Jianfeng & Wei, Xiaolan & Li, Jiang & Wang, Weilong & Yan, Jinyue, 2018. "Molecular dynamics simulations of the local structures and thermodynamic properties on molten alkali carbonate K2CO3," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 536-544.
    9. Hirbodi, Kamran & Enjavi-Arsanjani, Mahboubeh & Yaghoubi, Mahmood, 2020. "Techno-economic assessment and environmental impact of concentrating solar power plants in Iran," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    10. Widyolar, Bennett & Jiang, Lun & Ferry, Jonathan & Winston, Roland, 2018. "Experimental performance of a two-stage (50X) parabolic trough collector tested to 650 °C using a suspended particulate (alumina) HTF," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 228-243.
    11. Chacartegui, R. & Alovisio, A. & Ortiz, C. & Valverde, J.M. & Verda, V. & Becerra, J.A., 2016. "Thermochemical energy storage of concentrated solar power by integration of the calcium looping process and a CO2 power cycle," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 589-605.
    12. Xu, Li & Stein, Wesley & Kim, Jin-Soo & Wang, Zhifeng, 2018. "Three-dimensional transient numerical model for the thermal performance of the solar receiver," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 550-566.
    13. Villada, Carolina & Bonk, Alexander & Bauer, Thomas & Bolívar, Francisco, 2018. "High-temperature stability of nitrate/nitrite molten salt mixtures under different atmospheres," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 107-115.
    14. Aseri, Tarun Kumar & Sharma, Chandan & Kandpal, Tara C., 2021. "Cost reduction potential in parabolic trough collector based CSP plants: A case study for India," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    15. Peiró, Gerard & Gasia, Jaume & Miró, Laia & Prieto, Cristina & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2017. "Influence of the heat transfer fluid in a CSP plant molten salts charging process," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 148-158.
    16. Conroy, Tim & Collins, Maurice N. & Fisher, James & Grimes, Ronan, 2018. "Thermohydraulic analysis of single phase heat transfer fluids in CSP solar receivers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PA), pages 150-167.
    17. Widyolar, Bennett & Jiang, Lun & Ferry, Jonathan & Winston, Roland & Cygan, David & Abbasi, Hamid, 2019. "Experimental performance of a two-stage (50×) parabolic trough collector tested to 650 °C using a suspended particulate heat transfer fluid," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C), pages 436-445.
    18. Zhang, Yuanting & Qiu, Yu & Li, Qing & Henry, Asegun, 2022. "Optical-thermal-mechanical characteristics of an ultra-high-temperature graphite receiver designed for concentrating solar power," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    19. Yang, Chuntao & Wei, Xiaolan & Wang, Weilong & Lin, Zihao & Ding, Jing & Wang, Yan & Peng, Qiang & Yang, Jianping, 2016. "NOx emissions and the component changes of ternary molten nitrate salts in thermal energy storage process," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 346-352.
    20. Liu, Ming & Steven Tay, N.H. & Bell, Stuart & Belusko, Martin & Jacob, Rhys & Will, Geoffrey & Saman, Wasim & Bruno, Frank, 2016. "Review on concentrating solar power plants and new developments in high temperature thermal energy storage technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1411-1432.

    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:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:21:p:7868-:d:951315. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.