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Analyzing thermal properties of solar evacuated tube arrays coupled with mini-compound parabolic concentrator

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  • Xia, En-Tong
  • Chen, Fei

Abstract

Effective utilization of solar energy resource enables to improve the thermal performance of solar evacuated tube. In present work, the back side of solar vacuum tube was coupled with mini-compound parabolic concentrator (mini-CPC). The thermal characteristics of the presented mini-CPC solar vacuum tube were analyzed theoretically and experimentally. A mathematical model of heat transfer for the mini-CPC vacuum tube was established according to the energy conservation, and solved by iterative calculation based on home-built C programming language. The obtained numerical solutions fit in well with the experimental results. Furthermore, analysis indicates the vacuum interlayer plays a crucial role in hindering heat transfer. The thermal-convection resistance (Rco-air,conv) dominates the heat loss from cover tube to ambient rather than thermal-radiation resistance (Rco-sky,rad). The measured final temperature increment of working water for the mini-CPC and ordinary evacuated tube can reach 63.4 K and 49.8 K, respectively. An experimental result also reveals that the thermal efficiency of the mini-CPC vacuum tube is increased by 24.3%–29.2% compared with that of vacuum tube without mini-CPC, considering various weather conditions. Consequently, the designed mini-CPC evacuated tube shows a preferable performance, which may provide a certain reference in technology for engineering applications.

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  • Xia, En-Tong & Chen, Fei, 2020. "Analyzing thermal properties of solar evacuated tube arrays coupled with mini-compound parabolic concentrator," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 155-167.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:153:y:2020:i:c:p:155-167
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.02.011
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Yuan, Yu & Wu, Gang & Yang, Qichang & Cheng, Ruifeng & Tong, Yuxin & Zhang, Yi & Fang, Hui & Ma, Qianlei, 2021. "Experimental and analytical optical-thermal performance of evacuated cylindrical tube receiver for solar dish collector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    3. Chen, Xinge & Liang, Hao & Wu, Gang & Feng, Chaoqing & Tao, Tao & Ji, Yaning & Ma, Qianlei & Tong, Yuxin, 2023. "Coupled heat and humidity control system of narrow-trough solar collector and solid desiccant in Chinese solar greenhouse: Analysis of optical / thermal characteristics and experimental study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    4. Xia, En-Tong & Xu, Jin-Tao & Chen, Fei, 2021. "Investigation on structural and optical characteristics for an improved compound parabolic concentrator based on cylindrical absorber," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    5. Deng, Cheng-gang & Chen, Fei, 2021. "Model verification and photo-thermal conversion assessment of a novel facade embedded compound parabolic concentrator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).

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