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Heat loss analysis in a solar compound parabolic collector with aerogel and polycarbonate cover
Journal
ECOS 2021 - 34th International Conference on Efficency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems
Date Issued
2021-01-01
Author(s)
Yadav, Manoj Kumar
Modi, Anish
Kedare, Shireesh B.
Abstract
Flat plate solar collectors (FPC) are limited to low temperature (up to 80 ?C) operation because of high heat loss from the top surface due to convection and radiation when operating at higher temperature. Researchers have explored the idea of reducing heat loss by using vacuum or a transparent insulation material such as plastic insulation with honeycomb structure, glass capillary, and aerogel. A compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) may also be used with a flat absorber to concentrate the sunlight on the absorber surface for medium temperature (100 ?C to 150 ?C) applications. A transparent polycarbonate sheet can protect the reflector from dust and rain and reduce the reflective surface’s degradation. The transparent polycarbonate sheet also reduces the wind flow over the glass surface, eventually reducing the convective heat transfer from the glass surface due to the wind. This work presents a one-dimensional thermal resistance model to predict the overall heat loss coefficient from absorber surface to ambient with a CPC using aerogel and polycarbonate cover. The model was used to find the effect of aerogel and polycarbonate cover on the heat loss from flat absorber surface of CPC with temperatures between 60 ?C and 140 ?C. The top surface heat loss coefficient was reduced by 72.4 % in case of CPC with aerogel and 76.3 % in case of CPC with aerogel plus polycarbonate cover at 140 ?C of absorber and 25 ?C of ambient temperature.
Subjects