IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v12y2019i3p570-d205188.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Incorporating the Concept of Flexible Operation in the Design of Solar Collector Fields for Industrial Applications

Author

Listed:
  • Guillermo Martínez-Rodríguez

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico)

  • Amanda L. Fuentes-Silva

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico)

  • Juan R. Lizárraga-Morazán

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico)

  • Martín Picón-Núñez

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico)

Abstract

This work introduces the concept of flexible operation in the design of solar thermal utility systems for low temperature processes. The design objectives are: (a) The supply of the thermal needs of the process (heat duty and minimum required temperature), and (b) the maximization of the operating time during the day. The approach shows how the network structure is defined by adjusting the mass flow rate and the inlet temperature of the working fluid to achieve the smallest collector surface area. This work emphasizes the need to specify the solar network structure, which is comprised of two main elements: The number of lines in parallel and the number of collectors in series in each line. The former of these two design specifications is related to the heat load that the system will supply, while the latter is directly related to the delivery temperature. A stepwise design approach is demonstrated using two case studies where it is shown that the detailed design of the solar collector network structure is fundamental for a successful thermal integration with minimum investment. In this paper, the design methodology is based on flat-plate solar collectors, but it can be extended to any other type of low temperature solar technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Guillermo Martínez-Rodríguez & Amanda L. Fuentes-Silva & Juan R. Lizárraga-Morazán & Martín Picón-Núñez, 2019. "Incorporating the Concept of Flexible Operation in the Design of Solar Collector Fields for Industrial Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:3:p:570-:d:205188
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/3/570/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/3/570/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kalogirou, Soteris, 2003. "The potential of solar industrial process heat applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 76(4), pages 337-361, December.
    2. Tian, Zhiyong & Perers, Bengt & Furbo, Simon & Fan, Jianhua, 2018. "Analysis and validation of a quasi-dynamic model for a solar collector field with flat plate collectors and parabolic trough collectors in series for district heating," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 130-138.
    3. Mekhilef, S. & Saidur, R. & Safari, A., 2011. "A review on solar energy use in industries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 1777-1790, May.
    4. Quijera, José Antonio & Alriols, María González & Labidi, Jalel, 2011. "Integration of a solar thermal system in a dairy process," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 1843-1853.
    5. Jia, Hao & Cheng, Xiaomei & Zhu, Jingjing & Li, Zhaoling & Guo, Jiansheng, 2018. "Mathematical and experimental analysis on solar thermal energy harvesting performance of the textile-based solar thermal energy collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PA), pages 553-560.
    6. Martínez-Rodríguez, Guillermo & Fuentes-Silva, Amanda L. & Picón-Núñez, Martín, 2018. "Solar thermal networks operating with evacuated-tube collectors," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 26-33.
    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. Martínez-Rodríguez, Guillermo & Fuentes-Silva, Amanda L. & Velázquez-Torres, Daniel & Picón-Núñez, Martín, 2022. "Comprehensive solar thermal integration for industrial processes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PD).
    2. García-Guendulain, Juan M. & Riesco-Ávila, José M. & Picón-Núñez, Martín, 2020. "Reducing thermal imbalances and flow nonuniformity in solar collectors through the selection of free flow area ratio," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    3. Juan R Lizárraga-Morazán & Guillermo Martínez-Rodríguez & Amanda L Fuentes-Silva & Martín Picón-Núñez, 2021. "Selection of solar collector network design for industrial applications subject to economic and operation criteria," Energy & Environment, , vol. 32(8), pages 1504-1523, December.
    4. Guillermo Martínez-Rodríguez & Cristobal Díaz-de-León & Amanda L. Fuentes-Silva & Juan-Carlos Baltazar & Rafael García-Gutiérrez, 2023. "Detailed Thermo-Economic Assessment of a Heat Pump for Industrial Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-12, March.
    5. 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.
    6. Guillermo Martínez-Rodríguez & Juan-Carlos Baltazar & Amanda L. Fuentes-Silva & Rafael García-Gutiérrez, 2022. "Economic and Environmental Assessment Using Two Renewable Sources of Energy to Produce Heat and Power for Industrial Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-16, March.
    7. Jiří Jaromír Klemeš & Petar Sabev Varbanov & Paweł Ocłoń & Hon Huin Chin, 2019. "Towards Efficient and Clean Process Integration: Utilisation of Renewable Resources and Energy-Saving Technologies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-32, October.
    8. Martínez-Rodríguez, Guillermo & Baltazar, Juan-Carlos & Fuentes-Silva, Amanda L., 2023. "Heat and electric power production using heat pumps assisted with solar thermal energy for industrial applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(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. Allouhi, A. & Agrouaz, Y. & Benzakour Amine, Mohammed & Rehman, S. & Buker, M.S. & Kousksou, T. & Jamil, A. & Benbassou, A., 2017. "Design optimization of a multi-temperature solar thermal heating system for an industrial process," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 382-392.
    2. Meyers, Steven & Schmitt, Bastian & Vajen, Klaus, 2018. "Renewable process heat from solar thermal and photovoltaics: The development and application of a universal methodology to determine the more economical technology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 1537-1552.
    3. Ismail, Muhammad Imran & Yunus, Nor Alafiza & Hashim, Haslenda, 2021. "Integration of solar heating systems for low-temperature heat demand in food processing industry – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    4. Gil, Juan D. & Topa, A. & Álvarez, J.D. & Torres, J.L. & Pérez, M., 2022. "A review from design to control of solar systems for supplying heat in industrial process applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    5. Sharma, Ashish K. & Sharma, Chandan & Mullick, Subhash C. & Kandpal, Tara C., 2017. "Solar industrial process heating: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 124-137.
    6. jia, Teng & Huang, Junpeng & Li, Rui & He, Peng & Dai, Yanjun, 2018. "Status and prospect of solar heat for industrial processes in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 475-489.
    7. Diego-Ayala, U. & Carrillo, J.G., 2016. "Evaluation of temperature and efficiency in relation to mass flow on a solar flat plate collector in Mexico," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA), pages 756-764.
    8. Li, Lu & Sun, Jie & Li, Yinshi & He, Ya-Ling & Xu, Haojie, 2019. "Transient characteristics of a parabolic trough direct-steam-generation process," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 800-810.
    9. Cundapí, Roger & Moya, Sara L. & Valenzuela, Loreto, 2017. "Approaches to modelling a solar field for direct generation of industrial steam," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 666-681.
    10. Widyolar, Bennett & Jiang, Lun & Ferry, Jonathan & Winston, Roland, 2018. "Non-tracking East-West XCPC solar thermal collector for 200 celsius applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 521-533.
    11. 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).
    12. Wallerand, Anna S. & Kermani, Maziar & Voillat, Régis & Kantor, Ivan & Maréchal, François, 2018. "Optimal design of solar-assisted industrial processes considering heat pumping: Case study of a dairy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(PB), pages 565-585.
    13. Wang, Kai & Pantaleo, Antonio M. & Herrando, María & Faccia, Michele & Pesmazoglou, Ioannis & Franchetti, Benjamin M. & Markides, Christos N., 2020. "Spectral-splitting hybrid PV-thermal (PVT) systems for combined heat and power provision to dairy farms," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 1047-1065.
    14. Kim, Yong Sin & Balkoski, Kevin & Jiang, Lun & Winston, Roland, 2013. "Efficient stationary solar thermal collector systems operating at a medium-temperature range," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 1071-1079.
    15. Farjana, Shahjadi Hisan & Huda, Nazmul & Mahmud, M.A. Parvez & Saidur, R., 2018. "Solar industrial process heating systems in operation – Current SHIP plants and future prospects in Australia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 409-419.
    16. Pankaj Kumar & Krishna Kumar Sinha & Bojan Đurin & Mukesh Kumar Gupta & Nishant Saxena & Malay Kumar Banerjee & Nikola Kranjčić & Suraj Kumar Singh & Shruti Kanga, 2022. "Economics of Implementing Solar Thermal Heating Systems in the Textile Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-21, June.
    17. Zhijian Liu & Hao Li & Xinyu Zhang & Guangya Jin & Kewei Cheng, 2015. "Novel Method for Measuring the Heat Collection Rate and Heat Loss Coefficient of Water-in-Glass Evacuated Tube Solar Water Heaters Based on Artificial Neural Networks and Support Vector Machine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-21, August.
    18. Hachicha, Ahmed Amine & Rodríguez, Ivette & Ghenai, Chaouki, 2018. "Thermo-hydraulic analysis and numerical simulation of a parabolic trough solar collector for direct steam generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 152-165.
    19. Lugo, S. & García-Valladares, O. & Best, R. & Hernández, J. & Hernández, F., 2019. "Numerical simulation and experimental validation of an evacuated solar collector heating system with gas boiler backup for industrial process heating in warm climates," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1120-1132.
    20. Pirasteh, G. & Saidur, R. & Rahman, S.M.A. & Rahim, N.A., 2014. "A review on development of solar drying applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 133-148.

    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:12:y:2019:i:3:p:570-:d:205188. 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.