Title: Development and validation of a thermal model for line focus solar concentrators in water heating applications

Authors: Gunjan Kumar; Hemant Gupta

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shroff S.R. Rotary Institute of Chemical Technology, Ankleshwar, Gujarat Technological University, Ahmadabad, 393135, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shroff S.R. Rotary Institute of Chemical Technology, Ankleshwar, Gujarat Technological University, Ahmadabad, 393135, India

Abstract: Solar concentrators are used to collect solar energy and convert it to heat. Line focus solar collectors operate on the principle of line focus technology where sun radiations are directed to form a line over the receiver. In this paper, thermal model of line focus collectors is developed for the application of water heating. Thermal performance parameters like useful heat flux, heat loss, water exit temperature and thermal efficiency are analysed for different solar radiations and mass flow rates. The model is validated using experimental data from a cooling plant in Seville, Spain. The results of the simulation show good agreement with the experimental data. This thermal model has been used to assess the thermal performance of the collector for the climatic conditions of Ankleshwar, Gujarat, India. The average useful heat flux, the temperature difference of water, and thermal efficiency are reported as 0.656 kW/m², 17.64°C, and 76.10% respectively.

Keywords: line focus; solar collector; solar energy; thermal model; water heating.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETP.2023.138025

International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy, 2023 Vol.18 No.6, pp.343 - 352

Received: 06 Sep 2021
Accepted: 11 Aug 2022
Published online: 17 Apr 2024 *