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Operational Study of a Solar Thermal Installation with Recirculation for Industrial Applications

Author

Listed:
  • Jazmin Martínez-Sánchez

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

  • Guillermo Martínez-Rodríguez

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

  • Cristobal R. Diaz-de-Leon

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

  • Juan-Carlos Baltazar

    (Department of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 3581, USA)

Abstract

The solar thermal collector network (SCN) and the thermal energy storage system (TES) represent 90% of the solar thermal installation (STI) total costs. STI occupies 30 hectares, and any reduction is significant for the environment. The proposed approach, which includes a solar thermal plant with recirculation, a mixer, and a heat exchanger, reduces investment costs and environmental impact. It facilitates mixing in a simple tank. The developed methodology reduces the number of collectors and the size of the storage system. An industrial-powdered milk process is the case study. Two scenarios and the base case were evaluated. The four seasons and critical meteorological conditions were considered. Scenario one, without a heat exchanger, presents energy surpluses in three seasons. The second scenario, with a heat exchanger, heats the feedwater and guarantees the heat load and target temperature on critical days of the year. In this second scenario, it is possible to reduce the tank filling time from 8 to 7 h. Up to five parallels were reduced in both scenarios, with mass flow of 0.125 kg/s and up to 3.75% of the total tank volume of 52.65 m 3 (mass flow 0.075 kg/s). The optimized system is cost-effective, and 10.20% of the total cost was reduced. This methodology can be applied to any low-temperature STI.

Suggested Citation

  • Jazmin Martínez-Sánchez & Guillermo Martínez-Rodríguez & Cristobal R. Diaz-de-Leon & Juan-Carlos Baltazar, 2025. "Operational Study of a Solar Thermal Installation with Recirculation for Industrial Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:18:p:4927-:d:1750826
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bühler, Fabian & Zühlsdorf, Benjamin & Nguyen, Tuong-Van & Elmegaard, Brian, 2019. "A comparative assessment of electrification strategies for industrial sites: Case of milk powder production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 1383-1401.
    2. 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.
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    4. 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.
    5. 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).
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    8. Liu, Baihong & Gao, Wenfeng & Li, Qiong & Chen, Huai & Zhang, Yougang & Ding, Xiang, 2025. "Quantification of thermal stratification and its impact on energy efficiency in solar hot water storage tanks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).
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