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Solar Ray Tracing Analysis to Determine Energy Availability in a CPC Designed for Use as a Residential Water Heater

Author

Listed:
  • Miguel Terrón-Hernández

    (Renewable Energy Department, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Mérida 97200, Mexico)

  • Manuel I. Peña-Cruz

    (Conacyt—Centro de Investigaciones en Óptica, Unidad de Aguascalientes, Prol. Constitución 607, Reserva Loma Bonita, Aguascalientes 20200, Mexico)

  • Jose G. Carrillo

    (Renewable Energy Department, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Mérida 97200, Mexico)

  • Ulises Diego-Ayala

    (Arian International Projects, c/Baldiri Reixach, 4, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Vicente Flores

    (Metal-Mechanical Department, Instituto Tecnológico Nacional de México, Campus Apizaco, Av. Instituto Tecnológico S/N, Apizaco 90300, Mexico)

Abstract

Compound parabolic concentrators are relevant systems used in solar thermal technology. With adequate tailoring, they can be used as an efficient and low-cost alternative in residential water heating applications. This work presents a simulation study using a ray tracing analysis. With this technique, we simulate the interaction between solar rays and solar concentrator to quantify the amount of energy that impinges on the receiver at a particular time. Energy availability is evaluated in a comparison of two configurations throughout the year: static setup at 21° and multi-position setup; tilted with respect to the horizontal, depending on three seasonal positions: 0° for summer, 16° for spring/autumn, and 32° for winter, with the aim to evaluate the amount of available energy in each season. The fact that a tracking system can be dispensed with also represents an economical option for the proposed application. The results showed that at 21°, the proposed solar Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) works satisfactorily; however, by carrying out the selected angular adjustments, the overall energy availability increased by 22%, resulting in a more efficient option. The most effective design was also built and analyzed outdoors. The obtained thermal efficiency was of ~43%. The optical design and its evaluation developed herein proved to be a valuable tool for prototype design and performance evaluation.

Suggested Citation

  • Miguel Terrón-Hernández & Manuel I. Peña-Cruz & Jose G. Carrillo & Ulises Diego-Ayala & Vicente Flores, 2018. "Solar Ray Tracing Analysis to Determine Energy Availability in a CPC Designed for Use as a Residential Water Heater," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:2:p:291-:d:128693
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kalogirou, Soteris, 2003. "The potential of solar industrial process heat applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 76(4), pages 337-361, December.
    2. Qiang Wang & Jinfu Wang & Runsheng Tang, 2016. "Design and Optical Performance of Compound Parabolic Solar Concentrators with Evacuated Tube as Receivers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-16, October.
    3. Abdullahi, B. & AL-Dadah, R.K. & Mahmoud, S. & Hood, R., 2015. "Optical and thermal performance of double receiver compound parabolic concentrator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 1-10.
    4. Arancibia-Bulnes, Camilo A. & Peña-Cruz, Manuel I. & Mutuberría, Amaia & Díaz-Uribe, Rufino & Sánchez-González, Marcelino, 2017. "A survey of methods for the evaluation of reflective solar concentrator optics," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 673-684.
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    Cited by:

    1. Javed Akhter & Syed I. Gilani & Hussain H. Al-Kayiem & Muzaffar Ali, 2019. "Optical Performance Analysis of Single Flow Through and Concentric Tube Receiver Coupled with a Modified CPC Collector Under Different Configurations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-24, October.
    2. Riaz, Hamza & Ali, Muzaffar & Akhter, Javed & Sheikh, Nadeem Ahmed & Rashid, Muhammad & Usman, Muhammad, 2023. "Numerical and experimental investigations of an involute shaped solar compound parabolic collector with variable concentration ratio," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).

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