Title: Performance analysis of compound parabolic collector with extended surfaces inside the triangular receiver

Authors: Kaustubh Chavan; Nitin Gulhane

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), Matunga, Mumbai (Maharashtra) 400 019, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), Matunga, Mumbai (Maharashtra) 400 019, India

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to evaluate the thermal performance of a compound parabolic collector along with extended surfaces inside the triangular receiver (TR) arrangement. The realisable k-ε model is use for 3D analysis to estimate the parameters velocity distribution inside the receiver with different fin arrangements, temperature distribution over the receiver surface, water outlet temperature and structural deformation. The thermal performance of triangular receiver with and without fin configuration is investigated experimentally during actual outdoor test conditions. The numerical modelling is used to solve fluid and structural domains, and both analyses are synchronised with the help of interface junction such as fluid-structure interaction (FSI). This phenomenon is found to be helpful to examine the effect of concentrated solar fluxes, temperature distribution and mass flow rate. The results show that, there is a potential enhancement in thermal efficiency of TR with the fin arrangement at higher mass flow rate, due to increases in fluid temperature difference.

Keywords: solar energy; solar power; compound parabolic collector; CPC; triangular receivers; internal fins; CFD; computational fluid dynamics; fluid structure interaction; FSI; performance evaluation; extended surfaces; temperature distribution; water outlet temperature; structural deformation; concentrated solar fluxes; mass flow rate; numerical modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2017.080868

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2017 Vol.8 No.1, pp.24 - 46

Received: 27 Jan 2016
Accepted: 20 Jul 2016

Published online: 09 Dec 2016 *

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