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A robust transient modeling approach for an energy storage-based concentrated solar thermal collector

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  • Lim, Celine S.L.
  • Sobhansarbandi, Sarvenaz

Abstract

Solar energy plays a vital role in the future of clean energy production; however, the functionality of such technologies might be limited due to the intermittency of the sunlight/the amount of the system’s heat losses. The selected type of solar collector for this study is the heat pipe evacuated tube collector. A hybrid numerical model was developed through the combination of optical and transient thermal analysis using SolTrace and ANSYS Fluent. Additionally, the use of latent heat storage phase change material was incorporated into the system to transiently study its effects. The optical analysis was first studied using the MCRT technique. The results show that the use of a primary compound parabolic concentrator-involute reflector increases the overall average heat flux received by the absorber tube by a maximum of 108% and yields a uniform heat flux distribution. Then, a transient CFD analysis of the system with an involute reflector was performed. With the compound parabolic concentrator-involute reflector, the paraffin wax phase change material was able to achieve 100% melting, whereas a conventional system without a reflector only reached a maximum of 75% melting fraction. The novel approach was validated with ongoing experimental work, with a maximum deviation of 7.2%.

Suggested Citation

  • Lim, Celine S.L. & Sobhansarbandi, Sarvenaz, 2026. "A robust transient modeling approach for an energy storage-based concentrated solar thermal collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PH).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:ph:s0960148125020245
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.124360
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