A parabolic trough collector was studied to determine its performance parameters when stationary and when tracked. The overall heat loss coefficient, heat removal factor, efficiency function, flow factor and its thermal efficiency are the factors of interest. Optimum values obtained for the collector when tracked were as follows: Collector efficiency function, 12m2K/Kw; heat removal factor, 0.59, flow factor, 0.76; overall heat loss, 0.02KW/m2K and thermal efficiency of 56%.   Keywords: parabolic trough, performance, parameters

O, Ayodeji

O.F, Adeoye

English

International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE): E-Journals

Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy                                                                                                                                      www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3232 (Paper)   ISSN 2225-0573 (Online) Vol.4, No.4, 2014  48 Parametric Evaluation of a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector  Adeoye O.F1* Ayodeji O2. 1. Mechanical Engineering Technology Department Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, P.M.B 1019, Owo, Nigeria. 2. Teco Mills & Steel works, Owo, Nigeria. * E-mail of corresponding author: foax63@yahoo.com Abstract A parabolic trough collector was studied to determine its performance parameters when stationary and when tracked. The overall heat loss coefficient, heat removal factor, efficiency function, flow factor and its thermal efficiency are the factors of interest. Optimum values obtained for the collector when tracked were as follows: Collector efficiency function, 12m2K/Kw; heat removal factor, 0.59, flow factor, 0.76; overall heat loss, 0.02KW/m2K and thermal efficiency of 56%.  Keywords: parabolic trough, performance, parameters.  1. Introduction Parabolic troughs have been noted for it’s versatility as effective means of solar energy collection worldwide. Parabolic collectors have been found to perform variedly depending on the sizes of aperture, area, concentration ratio. Luz solar energy corporation developed a series of collectors of different sizes, namely LS-1, LS-2, LS-3 and were found to operate at different temperature ranges. Core performance parameter of parabolic collector that generates these varied temperature ranges is being investigated.  1.1 Theoretical Analysis The targeted parametric values were computed using the following relations: Collector thermal efficiency (η)    (1)  Collector efficiency function (Fc)  Fc =  η0 - η / uL    - (2)  The overall heat loss coefficient was calculated using the expression  qu . Ac = S – UL (TC – TA) Ac  - (3)  Heat removal factor (FR) is given by  TFo = TFi   +     - (4)   Collector flow factor (F1)  T2 = T1    +    - (5)    The above stated equations were culled from (Duffie and Beckman, 1980) and used for computation of the parameters  η = qu I qu (I – FR)   UL FR qu (I – F1)  UL.FR - Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy                                                                                                                                      www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3232 (Paper)   ISSN 2225-0573 (Online) Vol.4, No.4, 2014  49 2. Methodology Two parabolic collectors of the size specification namely: focal length (0.32m); aperture diameter (1.10m); overall module size (1.1 x 0.4m); concentrator rim angle (820); concentration ratio (3.4). The reflective surface was polished stainless steel 1.0mm thickness. Suspended at the focal axis of each of the collector is an absorber made of alluminium duct of 7mm internal diameter coated with black paint. One of the collectors was mounted on a tracker while the other was stationery at the latitude of location. Digital solarimeters were used for measuring the solar radiation at Owo, in Nigeria. Digital temperatures sensors were used for reading the fluid temperatures at various instances.      3. Results and Discussion The two collectors of same configuration were observed experimentally for 30 days (Table 1) giving result as graphically presented for variation of fluid outlets temperatures (fig 1). The collector thermal efficiency was computed over the experimental period and shown in figure 2. Figure 3 and 4 are portraits of their thermal efficiencies and calculated efficiencies functions against temperatures above ambient respectively. Fig 5 presents the graphical comparison of their thermal efficiencies against their efficiency functions at various instances plotted from the collector performance parameters analysis in table 2.0      Plate 1: The tracking system set-up alone  Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy                                                                                                                                      www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3232 (Paper)   ISSN 2225-0573 (Online) Vol.4, No.4, 2014  50                               Table 2.0: collector performance parameters   Table 2.0: collector performance parameters  ηS ∆TS FS ηT ∆Tt FT 50 10 10 65 12 8 44 6 12 55 8 13 36 4 15 50 6 15 30 3 17 45 5 18 27 2 18 43 4 19          Table 1.0: Average daily values Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy                                                                                                                                      www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3232 (Paper)   ISSN 2225-0573 (Online) Vol.4, No.4, 2014  51                                                    Fig 2. Collector thermal efficiency over the 30 days experimental period Fig 1. Fluid outlet temperature variations against the 30days experimental period Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy                                                                                                                                      www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3232 (Paper)   ISSN 2225-0573 (Online) Vol.4, No.4, 2014  52                                                    Fig. 3: Thermal efficiency against temperature above ambient Fig. 4: Efficiency function against temperature above ambient Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy                                                                                                                                      www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3232 (Paper)   ISSN 2225-0573 (Online) Vol.4, No.4, 2014  53                            1. Thermal efficiency,    for the stationary collector ηS =     =   = 43%    For the tracked collector,     ηT =           x 100%    =      x 100% = 56%  2. The collector efficiency function (Fc) For the stationary collector  Fcs =   =    = 12.34m2k/kw For the tracked collector,  FCT =          =   = 12.00m2k/kw qusm I x 100% x 100% 0.22 0.52 quTm I 0.24 0.52    η0 -  ηT  ULS 0.80 – 0.43 0.03  η0 - ηT    ULT 0.80 – 0.56 0.02 Fig. 5: Thermal efficiency against efficiency function Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy                                                                                                                                      www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3232 (Paper)   ISSN 2225-0573 (Online) Vol.4, No.4, 2014  54  3. Overall heat loss coefficient The stationary collector gives the following values; Mean ambient  temperature, TAM = 34.400C= 307K Mean collector  Temperature, TCSM = 43.000C = 316K Mean useful thermal gain,  qUSM = 0.22kW/m2 Mean heat absorbed, SUM = 0.3/kW/m2 Substituting for these values in the equation (iii) below, we have qUSM . AC = SSM – ULS (TCSM – TA) AC where AC = 0.2112m2 that is 9ULS = 0.22 therefore, ULS = 0.03kW/m2k  For the tracked collector; Mean ambient temperature, TAM = 307K Mean collector temperature TCTM = 319K Mean useful thermal gain qUTM = 0.29kw/m2 Mean heat absorbed, SSM = 0.44kw/m2 Substituting these values in the equation (iii) 0.29 AC = 0.44 – ULT (319 – 307) AC Therefore, ULT = 0.02 kw/m2K  4. Collector heat removal factor (FR) The heat removal factor was established as follows; for the stationary collector TPM - TPSM = TFOM = 316k TF1 = TF1SM = 312k qUSM = 0.22kw/m2k; ULS = 0.03kw/m2k  therefore, 3116 = 312  +     0.22 – 0.22FRS = 0.12 Therefore, FRS = 0.46  For the tracked, we have; qUTM = 0.29kw/m2; ULT = 0.02kw/m2k; TFTM = 313k  therefore, 313 +             = 319k  0.12 = 0.29 – 0.29FRT Therefore, FRT = 0.59  5. Collector flow factor (F1) for the stationary collector;  TFOSM   =      TFISM +   316     =   312   =  0.22 (1 - FRS) 0.03 FRS 0.29 (1 - FRT) 0.02 FRT qU (1 – FS) ULS.FRS 0.22 (1 – FS) ULS.FRS Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy                                                                                                                                      www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3232 (Paper)   ISSN 2225-0573 (Online) Vol.4, No.4, 2014  55    =     Therefore, FS = 0.73 Similarly for the tracked collector, we have; TFOTM = 319K TFITM = 313K; UUTM = 0.29KW/m2; ULT = 0.02KW/m2 and FRT = 0.59, Substituting these values, we have;  319 = 313 +   0.29 – 0.29F1T = 0.07 Therefore, F1T = 0.76  6. Collector efficiency function (F11) F11 = FR/F1 in each case For the stationary collector; heat removal factor, FRS = 0.46, flow factor, Fs1 = 0.73  The efficiency factor, FS11 =   =       =  0.63  For tracked collector; heat removal factor,  FRT = 0.59 and the flow factor, FT1 = 0.76 Therefore, the efficiency factor, FT11 =  = 0.78 Summarily, the remit of the collection performance parameters is as presented in table 4.5  4. Conclusion The research was carried out to determine some performance parameters of a parabolic trough solar collector of aperture diameter 1.1m, focal length (0.32m) and C.R (3.4). Result show that the tracked parabolic trough is more efficient in converting solar energy to useful heat. The product of the UL – value and collector efficiency function is a determinant of the collector thermal efficiency in each case. That the greater UL.FC product, the less the thermal efficiency. The removal factor determines the collector temperature and is inversely proportional to it.  The heat flow function is also inversely proportional to the main fluid outlet temperature.  NOMENCLATURE TA  = Ambient Temperature (K) TAM  = Mean Ambient Temperature (K) TFI  = Collector Fluid inlet temperature (K) TFIM  = Mean Fluid Inlet temperature for 30 days (K) TFO  =Collector fluid outlet temperature (K) TFOM  = Mean fluid outlet temperature (K) TFIM  = Mean fluid inlet temperature TC  = Collector temperature (K) TCM = Mean collector temperature for  n = 30days (K) I = Solar insolation (Wm-2) IM = Mean solar insolation for n = 30days (Wm-2)  η = Transmittance  α = Absorptance AC = Collector surface area (m2) 0.22 (1 – FS) 0.03 x 0.46 FS1 0.46 0.73 0.59 0.76 FRS 0.29 (1 – F1T) 0.59 x 0.02 Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy                                                                                                                                      www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3232 (Paper)   ISSN 2225-0573 (Online) Vol.4, No.4, 2014  56 UL =Overall heat loss coefficient (Wm-2K) ULS = Overall heat loss coefficient for the stationary collector Wm-2K ULT = Overall heat loss coefficient for the tracking collector (Wm-2K) qU = Useful heat form (kWm-2) S = Heat absorbed Wm-2 qL = Thermal loss Wm-2 η = Conversion factor or optical efficiency (%) η = Collector thermal efficiency (%) ηCS = Thermal efficiency of the stationary collector (%) ηCT = Thermal efficiency of the tracking collector (%) CP = Specific heat capacity kJ kg-1 K T = Time (Hour) m = Mass flow rate kg s-1 Mr = Total mass of fluid transferred over a period of time (kg)  Please note that subscripts S and T are included to indicate the stationary and tracking collectors, respectively.  5. References Adeyemo, S.B. (1997); “Estimation of Direct Solar Radiation Intensities,” NSE Technical Transaction. A Technical Publication of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, 32 (1): 1-11.  Adeyemo, S.B. (2002); “Simulation of the performance of Solar Energy System for Domestic water,” Global J. Mechanical Eng. University of Uyo, Nigeria, 3 (2): 56-61.  Dudley, V.E. and I.R Evans (1995); “Test results: Industrial Solar Technology parabolic trough solar Collector,” SAND94-1117. Sandia Establishment Laboratories Sandia.  Duffie, J.A and W.A Beckman (1980); “Solar Engineering of thermal process” Willey Interscience, New York.  Gallagher, J.O. and R. Winstom (1986); “Test of a Trumpet secondary concentrator with a paraboloidal dish primary,” Solar Energy, pp: 36, 37, 10, 86.  Gordon, J.M. and C. Sattiel (1986); “Analysis and optimization of a Multi-stage solar collector system,” Transaction of the ASME. J. Solar Energy Eng., 108: 192-197.  Heiti, R.V. and G. Thodos (1983); “An experiment parabolic cylindrical concentrator. Its construction and thermal performance;” Solar Energy, 30:483.  Kreith, J.FD. and F. Kreith (1981); “Solar Energy Handbook,” MacGraw-Hill Publishing Company Ltd. London.  Lunde, P.J. (1980); “Solar thermal Engineering Space heating and hot water system,” John Wiley and Sons Inc.  Meinel, A.B. and M.P. Meinel (1974); “Applied Solar Energy,” Addison, Wesley, reading, Massachustts, pp: 226.  Rabl, A. N.B. Goodman and R. Winston (1979); “Parabolic design considerations for CPC solar collectors,” Solar Energy, 22:373.  Roderick, W. (1999); “The tracker,” poulek solar Ltd Velvurskor 9, c2, 16000 Prague. The IISTE is a pioneer in the Open-Access hosting service and academic event management.  The aim of the firm is Accelerating Global Knowledge Sharing.  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Parametric Evaluation of a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector

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Parametric Evaluation of a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector

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