IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v269y2020ics0306261920306413.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Experimental and numerical analysis of an efficiently optimized evacuated flat plate solar collector under medium temperature

Author

Listed:
  • Gao, Datong
  • Gao, Guangtao
  • Cao, Jingyu
  • Zhong, Shuai
  • Ren, Xiao
  • Dabwan, Yousef N.
  • Hu, Maobin
  • Jiao, Dongsheng
  • Kwan, Trevor Hocksun
  • Pei, Gang

Abstract

Medium temperature solar thermal systems have a great prospect to be an efficient energy source for practical industrial applications. Although the evacuated flat solar collector is a potential non-concentrating collector for this application, current designs have not fully demonstrated its superiority. In this paper, a medium-scale (50.96 m2) solar thermal system based on an efficiently optimized evacuated flat plate solar collector structure is designed. A systematic four months long real-time experiment under the natural environment is conducted for medium solar thermal applications in a region with four distinct seasons. An annual performance analysis is then conducted in four different locations through a validated numerical model. Experimental results demonstrate that, when the inlet temperature is 123.0 °C, the ambient temperature is 35.7 °C and the solar irradiation is 835.2 W/m2, the thermal efficiency and exergy efficiency can reach 59.67% and 14.35%, respectively. The efficiently optimized evacuated flat plate solar collector can also achieve a stable annual average thermal efficiency at the four studied locations with values reaching up to 50%. Therefore, the superiority of this efficiently optimized evacuated flat plate solar collector design over previous ones is demonstrated.

Suggested Citation

  • Gao, Datong & Gao, Guangtao & Cao, Jingyu & Zhong, Shuai & Ren, Xiao & Dabwan, Yousef N. & Hu, Maobin & Jiao, Dongsheng & Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Pei, Gang, 2020. "Experimental and numerical analysis of an efficiently optimized evacuated flat plate solar collector under medium temperature," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:269:y:2020:i:c:s0306261920306413
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115129
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261920306413
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115129?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. Hosenuzzaman, M. & Rahim, N.A. & Selvaraj, J. & Hasanuzzaman, M. & Malek, A.B.M.A. & Nahar, A., 2015. "Global prospects, progress, policies, and environmental impact of solar photovoltaic power generation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 284-297.
    2. Mahbubul, I.M. & Khan, Mohammed Mumtaz A. & Ibrahim, Nasiru I. & Ali, Hafiz Muhammad & Al-Sulaiman, Fahad A. & Saidur, R., 2018. "Carbon nanotube nanofluid in enhancing the efficiency of evacuated tube solar collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 36-44.
    3. Moss, R.W. & Henshall, P. & Arya, F. & Shire, G.S.F. & Hyde, T. & Eames, P.C., 2018. "Performance and operational effectiveness of evacuated flat plate solar collectors compared with conventional thermal, PVT and PV panels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 588-601.
    4. Cuce, Erdem & Cuce, Pinar Mert, 2016. "Vacuum glazing for highly insulating windows: Recent developments and future prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1345-1357.
    5. Chopra, K. & Tyagi, V.V. & Pandey, A.K. & Sari, Ahmet, 2018. "Global advancement on experimental and thermal analysis of evacuated tube collector with and without heat pipe systems and possible applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 351-389.
    6. Bachelier, Camille & Jäger, Wadim, 2019. "Thermal and hydraulic evaluation of a linear Fresnel solar collector loop operated with molten salt and liquid metal," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C), pages 207-216.
    7. Karki, Saroj & Haapala, Karl R. & Fronk, Brian M., 2019. "Technical and economic feasibility of solar flat-plate collector thermal energy systems for small and medium manufacturers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    8. Islam, Md Tasbirul & Huda, Nazmul & Abdullah, A.B. & Saidur, R., 2018. "A comprehensive review of state-of-the-art concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies: Current status and research trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 987-1018.
    9. Sharafeldin, Mahmoud Ahmed & Gróf, Gyula & Mahian, Omid, 2017. "Experimental study on the performance of a flat-plate collector using WO3/Water nanofluids," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 2436-2444.
    10. Ozsoy, Ahmet & Corumlu, Vahit, 2018. "Thermal performance of a thermosyphon heat pipe evacuated tube solar collector using silver-water nanofluid for commercial applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 26-34.
    11. Manikandan, G.K. & Iniyan, S. & Goic, Ranko, 2019. "Enhancing the optical and thermal efficiency of a parabolic trough collector – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1524-1540.
    12. Zhao, Jiaxin & Ma, Tao & Li, Zhenpeng & Song, Aotian, 2019. "Year-round performance analysis of a photovoltaic panel coupled with phase change material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C), pages 51-64.
    13. Mahon, D. & Henshall, P. & Claudio, G. & Eames, P.C., 2020. "Feasibility study of MgSO4 + zeolite based composite thermochemical energy stores charged by vacuum flat plate solar thermal collectors for seasonal thermal energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 1799-1807.
    14. Li, Zhenpeng & Ma, Tao & Zhao, Jiaxin & Song, Aotian & Cheng, Yuanda, 2019. "Experimental study and performance analysis on solar photovoltaic panel integrated with phase change material," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 471-486.
    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. Chen, Liangqi & Yue, Huifeng & Wang, Jiangfeng & Lou, Juwei & Wang, Shunsen & Guo, Yumin & Deng, Bohao & Sun, Lu, 2023. "Thermodynamic analysis of a hybrid energy system coupling solar organic Rankine cycle and ground source heat pump: Exploring heat cascade utilization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    2. Gao, Datong & Li, Jing & Ren, Xiao & Hu, Tianxiang & Pei, Gang, 2022. "A novel direct steam generation system based on the high-vacuum insulated flat plate solar collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 966-977.
    3. Qian, Suxin & Wang, Yao & Xu, Shijie & Chen, Yanliang & Yuan, Lifen & Yu, Jianlin, 2021. "Cascade utilization of low-grade thermal energy by coupled elastocaloric power and cooling cycle," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    4. Guillermo Martínez-Rodríguez & Héctor H. Silviano-Mendoza & Amanda L. Fuentes-Silva & Juan-Carlos Baltazar, 2024. "Continuous Solar Thermal Energy Production Based on Critical Irradiance Levels for Industrial Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-17, February.
    5. Agnieszka Jachura & Robert Sekret, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment of the Use of Phase Change Material in an Evacuated Solar Tube Collector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-18, July.
    6. Luo, Rongrong & Wang, Liuwei & Yu, Wei & Shao, Feilong & Shen, Haikuo & Xie, Huaqing, 2023. "High energy storage density titanium nitride-pentaerythritol solid–solid composite phase change materials for light-thermal-electric conversion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    7. Guo, Yongpeng & Chen, Jing & Song, Hualong & Zheng, Ke & Wang, Jian & Wang, Hongsheng & Kong, Hui, 2024. "A review of solar thermochemical cycles for fuel production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    8. Gao, Datong & Zhao, Bin & Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Hao, Yong & Pei, Gang, 2022. "The spatial and temporal mismatch phenomenon in solar space heating applications: status and solutions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    9. Gao, Datong & Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Dabwan, Yousef Naji & Hu, Maobin & Hao, Yong & Zhang, Tao & Pei, Gang, 2022. "Seasonal-regulatable energy systems design and optimization for solar energy year-round utilization☆," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    10. Ding Ding & Wenjing He & Chunlu Liu, 2021. "Mathematical Modeling and Optimization of Vanadium-Titanium Black Ceramic Solar Collectors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-20, January.
    11. Olaf Boeckmann & Drin Marmullaku & Micha Schaefer, 2024. "Dynamic Modeling and Simulation of a Facade-Integrated Adsorption System for Solar Cooling of Lightweight Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-29, April.
    12. Hu, Mingke & Guo, Chao & Zhao, Bin & Ao, Xianze & Suhendri, & Cao, Jingyu & Wang, Qiliang & Riffat, Saffa & Su, Yuehong & Pei, Gang, 2021. "A parametric study on the performance characteristics of an evacuated flat-plate photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 884-898.
    13. Eliana Gaudino & Antonio Caldarelli & Roberto Russo & Marilena Musto, 2023. "Formulation of an Efficiency Model Valid for High Vacuum Flat Plate Collectors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-12, November.
    14. De Luca, Daniela & Strazzullo, Paolo & Di Gennaro, Emiliano & Caldarelli, Antonio & Gaudino, Eliana & Musto, Marilena & Russo, Roberto, 2023. "High vacuum flat plate photovoltaic-thermal (HV PV-T) collectors: Efficiency analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 352(C).
    15. Zhao, Bin & Liu, Jie & Hu, Mingke & Ao, Xianze & Li, Lanxin & Xuan, Qingdong & Pei, Gang, 2023. "Performance analysis of a broadband selective absorber/emitter for hybrid utilization of solar thermal and radiative cooling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 763-771.
    16. Ren, Xiao & Li, Jing & Gao, Datong & Wu, Lijun & Pei, Gang, 2021. "Analysis of a novel photovoltaic/thermal system using InGaN/GaN MQWs cells in high temperature applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 11-20.
    17. Gao, Datong & Wu, Lijun & Hao, Yong & Pei, Gang, 2022. "Ultrahigh-efficiency solar energy harvesting via a non-concentrating evacuated aerogel flat-plate solar collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 1455-1468.
    18. Stanek, Bartosz & Grzywnowicz, Krzysztof & Bartela, Łukasz & Węcel, Daniel & Uchman, Wojciech, 2021. "A system analysis of hybrid solar PTC-CPV absorber operation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 635-653.
    19. Gao, Datong & Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Hu, Maobin & Pei, Gang, 2022. "The energy, exergy, and techno-economic analysis of a solar seasonal residual energy utilization system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    20. Lou, Juwei & Cao, Hua & Meng, Xin & Wang, Yaxiong & Wang, Jiangfeng & Chen, Liangqi & Sun, Lu & Wang, Mengxuan, 2024. "Power load analysis and configuration optimization of solar thermal-PV hybrid microgrid based on building," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    21. Tyagi, Praveen Kumar & Kumar, Rajan, 2024. "Thermodynamic modeling and performance optimization of nanofluid-based photovoltaic/thermal system using central composite design scheme of response surface methodology," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(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. Gao, Datong & Wu, Lijun & Hao, Yong & Pei, Gang, 2022. "Ultrahigh-efficiency solar energy harvesting via a non-concentrating evacuated aerogel flat-plate solar collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 1455-1468.
    2. Ma, Tao & Li, Meng & Kazemian, Arash, 2020. "Photovoltaic thermal module and solar thermal collector connected in series to produce electricity and high-grade heat simultaneously," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    3. Kumar, Laveet & Hasanuzzaman, M. & Rahim, N.A. & Islam, M.M., 2021. "Modeling, simulation and outdoor experimental performance analysis of a solar-assisted process heating system for industrial process heat," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 656-673.
    4. Sharafeldin, M.A. & Gróf, Gyula, 2019. "Efficiency of evacuated tube solar collector using WO3/Water nanofluid," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 453-460.
    5. Bin Huang & Lin-Li Tian & Qing-Hua Yu & Xun Liu & Zu-Guo Shen, 2021. "Numerical Analysis of Melting Process in a Rectangular Enclosure with Different Fin Locations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-17, July.
    6. Zhao, Dong & Liu, Ying, 2020. "A prototype for light-electric harvester based on light sensitive liquid crystal elastomer cantilever," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    7. Zhou, Yuekuan & Zheng, Siqian, 2020. "Multi-level uncertainty optimisation on phase change materials integrated renewable systems with hybrid ventilations and active cooling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    8. Gao, Datong & Zhong, Shuai & Ren, Xiao & Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Pei, Gang, 2022. "The energetic, exergetic, and mechanical comparison of two structurally optimized non-concentrating solar collectors for intermediate temperature applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 881-898.
    9. Ham, Jeonggyun & Shin, Yunchan & Cho, Honghyun, 2022. "Comparison of thermal performance between a surface and a volumetric absorption solar collector using water and Fe3O4 nanofluid," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PC).
    10. Muhammad Aftab Rafiq & Liguo Zhang & Chih-Chun Kung, 2022. "A Techno-Economic Analysis of Solar Energy Developmental Under Competing Technologies: A Case Study in Jiangxi, China," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, June.
    11. Sarafraz, M.M. & Safaei, M.R., 2019. "Diurnal thermal evaluation of an evacuated tube solar collector (ETSC) charged with graphene nanoplatelets-methanol nano-suspension," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 364-372.
    12. Li, Hong & Liu, Hongyuan & Li, Min, 2022. "Review on heat pipe based solar collectors: Classifications, performance evaluation and optimization, and effectiveness improvements," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(PA).
    13. Gao, Datong & Li, Jing & Ren, Xiao & Hu, Tianxiang & Pei, Gang, 2022. "A novel direct steam generation system based on the high-vacuum insulated flat plate solar collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 966-977.
    14. Tembhare, Saurabh P. & Barai, Divya P. & Bhanvase, Bharat A., 2022. "Performance evaluation of nanofluids in solar thermal and solar photovoltaic systems: A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    15. Savvakis, Nikolaos & Tsoutsos, Theocharis, 2021. "Theoretical design and experimental evaluation of a PV+PCM system in the mediterranean climate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    16. Junaid Ahmed & Laveet Kumar & Abdul Fatah Abbasi & Mamdouh El Haj Assad, 2022. "Energy, Exergy, Environmental and Economic Analysis (4e) of a Solar Thermal System for Process Heating in Jamshoro, Pakistan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-18, November.
    17. Wang, Qiliang & Hu, Mingke & Yang, Honglun & Cao, Jingyu & Li, Jing & Su, Yuehong & Pei, Gang, 2019. "Performance evaluation and analyses of novel parabolic trough evacuated collector tubes with spectrum-selective glass envelope," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 793-804.
    18. Islam, M.M. & Hasanuzzaman, M. & Rahim, N.A. & Pandey, A.K. & Rawa, M. & Kumar, L., 2021. "Real time experimental performance investigation of a NePCM based photovoltaic thermal system: An energetic and exergetic approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 71-87.
    19. Shamberger, Patrick J. & Bruno, Nickolaus M., 2020. "Review of metallic phase change materials for high heat flux transient thermal management applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    20. Chopra, K. & Tyagi, V.V. & Pandey, A.K. & Sari, Ahmet, 2018. "Global advancement on experimental and thermal analysis of evacuated tube collector with and without heat pipe systems and possible applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 351-389.

    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:appene:v:269:y:2020:i:c:s0306261920306413. 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.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    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.