Abstract
This experimental study presents the thermal efficiency enhancement of a parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC) system using different refractive surfaces and various mass flow rates. Two PTSC models were used to compare the aluminium sheet (AS) and silver chrome film (SCF) under the weather conditions of Hungary. Initially, similarity tests of the two collectors were carried out using the aluminium reflective surfaces with a mass flow rate of 90 L/h. According to the test results, the average thermal efficiency between collectors did not exceed 0.3%. Afterwards, the PTSC was compared with an evacuated U-shaped glass tube at different mass flow rates, namely 30, 60, 90, and 120 L/h. According to the experimental results, the maximum heat removal factor of PTSC for both SCF and AS at 120 L/h was 58.59% and 46.02%, respectively. Moreover, the maximum thermal efficiency with AS obtained for 120, 90, 60, and 30 L/h mass flow rates reached 27%, 22.84%, 18.9%, and 14.86%, respectively. Likewise, the maximum thermal efficiency with SCF at these mass flow rates attained 46.84%, 39.73%, 37.47%, and 33.68%, respectively. Conclusively, the PTSC thermal performance using SCF is superior to that of AS regardless of mass flow rate.
REFERENCES
Asaad Yasseen, A.-R., Istvan, S., and Istvan, F., Selective Absorber Coatings and Technological Advancements in Performance Enhancement for Parabolic Trough Solar Collector, J. Thermal Sci., 2022, pp. 1–19.
Al-Rabeeah, A.Y., Seres, I., and Farkas, I., Thermal Improvement in Parabolic Trough Solar Collector Using Receiver Tube Design and Nanofluid, in: Int. Workshop IFToMM for Sustainable Development Goals, Springer, 2021, pp. 30–40.
Al-Rabeeah, A.Y., Seres, I., and Farkas, I., Experimental Investigation and Performance Evaluation of Parabolic Trough Solar Collector for Hot Water Generation, J. Eng. Therm., 2021, vol. 30, pp. 420–432.
Sedaghat, F., Yousefi, F., and Zolfaghari, H., Experimental Investigation and Modeling of S, N-GQDs Nanofluid Density Using New Equation of State and Artificial Neural Network, J. Eng. Therm., 2019, vol. 28, pp. 276–290.
Al-Oran, O., Lezsovits, F., and Aljawabrah, A., Exergy and Energy Amelioration for Parabolic Trough Collector Using Mono and Hybrid Nanofluids, J. Therm. An. Calorim., 2020, pp. 1–18.
Mills, D., Advances in Solar Thermal Electricity Technology, Solar Energy, 2004, vol. 76, pp. 19–31.
Noman, M., Wasim, A., Ali, M., et al., An Investigation of a Solar Cooker with Parabolic Trough Concentrator, Case Stud. Thermal Engin., 2019, vol. 14, p. 100436.
Selvaraj Chandrika, V., El, M., Attia, H., et al., Performance Enhancements of Conventional Solar Still Using Reflective Aluminium Foil Sheet and Reflective Glass Mirrors: Energy and Exergy Analysis, n.d.
Garcı́a-Segura, A., Fernández-Garcı́a, A., Ariza, M.J., et al., Durability Studies of Solar Reflectors: A Review, Renew. Sust. Energy Rev., 2016, vol. 62, pp. 453–467.
Kennedy, C.E., and Terwilliger, K., Optical Durability of Candidate Solar Reflectors, J. Sol. Energy Eng., 2005, vol. 127, pp. 262–269.
Rodrıguez, S.M., Gálvez, J.B., Rubio, M.I.M., et al., Engineering of Solar Photocatalytic Collectors, Solar Energy, 2004, vol. 77, pp. 513–524.
Czanderna, A.W. and Schissel, P., Specularity and Stability of Silvered Polymers, Solar Energy Mat., 1986, vol. 14, pp. 341–356.
Macedo-Valencia, J., Ramı́rez-Ávila, J., Acosta, R., et al., Design, Construction and Evaluation of Parabolic Trough Collector as Demonstrative Prototype, Energy Procedia, 2014, vol. 57, pp. 989–998.
Muthu, G., Shanmugam, S., and Veerappan, A.R., Solar Parabolic Dish Thermoelectric Generator with Acrylic Cover, Energy Procedia, 2014, vol. 54, pp. 2–10.
Iqbal, W., Ahmad, W., and Fatima, N., Experimental and Theoretical Performance Investigation of Parabolic Trough Collector for Industrial Sector in the Region of Taxila, Techn. J., 2020, vol. 25, pp. 76–84.
Morales, A. and Ajona, J.I., Durability, Performance and Scalability of Sol-Gel Front Surface Mirrors and Selective Absorbers, Le J. de Physique IV, 1999, vol. 9, p. Pr3-513.
Almanza, R., Hernández, P., Martı́nez, I., et al., Development and Mean Life of Aluminum First-Surface Mirrors for Solar Energy Applications, Solar Energy Mat. Solar Cells, 2009, vol. 93, pp. 1647–1651.
Fend, T., Hoffschmidt, B., Jorgensen, G., et al., Comparative Assessment of Solar Concentrator Materials, Solar Energy, 2003, vol. 74, pp. 149–155.
Chae, D.J., Kim, D.Y., Kim, D.H., et al., Optical Properties of a NiO/Al-Based Reflector for High-Power Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diodes, J. Korean Phys. Soc., 2011, vol. 58, pp. 990–993.
Zou, B., Dong, J., Yao, Y., et al., A Detailed Study on the Optical Performance of Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors with Monte Carlo Ray Tracing Method Based on Theoretical Analysis, Solar Energy, 2017, vol. 147, pp. 189–201.
Arasu, A.V. and Sornakumar, S.T., Performance Characteristics of the Solar Parabolic Trough Collector with Hot Water Generation System, Thermal Sci., 2006, vol. 10, pp. 167–174.
März, T., Prahl, C., Ulmer, S., et al., Validation of Two Optical Measurement Methods for the Qualification of the Shape Accuracy of Mirror Panels for Concentrating Solar Systems, J. Solar Energy Engin., 2011, vol. 133, no. 3. p. 030201.
Bellos, E., and Tzivanidis, C., Alternative Designs of Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors, Prog. Energy Combust. Sci.2019, vol. 71, pp. 81–117.
Bellos, E., Tzivanidis, C., Antonopoulos, K.A., et al., Thermal Enhancement of Solar Parabolic Trough Collectors by Using Nanofluids and Converging-Diverging Absorber Tube, Renew. Energy, 2016, vol. 94, pp. 213–222.
Bellos, E. and Tzivanidis, C., Enhancing the Performance of Evacuated and Non-Evacuated Parabolic Trough Collectors Using Twisted Tape Inserts, Perforated Plate Inserts and Internally Finned Absorber, Energies (Basel), 2018, vol. 11, p. 1129.
Duffie, J.A. and Beckman, W.A., Solar Engineering of Thermal processes, 2nd ed., New York: Wiley, 1991.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Al-Rabeeah, A.Y., Seres, I. & Farkas, I. Experimental Investigation of Parabolic Trough Solar Collector Thermal Efficiency Enhanced by Different Reflective Materials. J. Engin. Thermophys. 32, 579–590 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1810232823030128
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1810232823030128