Title: Exergetic assessment of transmission-concentrated solar energy systems via optical fibres for building applications

Authors: Chafika Zidani; Boumédiène Benyoucef; Nassima Madini

Addresses: Unit of Research on Materials and Renewables Energies, Tlemcen University, 13000, Republic of Algeria ' Unit of Research on Materials and Renewables Energies, Tlemcen University, 13000, Republic of Algeria ' Unit of Research on Materials and Renewables Energies, Tlemcen University, 13000, Republic of Algeria

Abstract: Optical fibres solar energy transmission and concentration provide a flexible way of handling concentrated solar energy. Solar lighting with Fibre Optic Bundles (FOBs) can be considered a promising option for energy-efficient green buildings. This study deals with the exergetic analysis and performance assessment of a system based on the idea of Transmission-Concentrated Solar Energy via Optical Fibres (TCSEvOF). A mathematical model is proposed for this study. The daily average exergy efficiencies are found to be 27% for the spring and autumn equinoxes, it is expected that the presented model would be beneficial to everyone involved in the design and performance evaluation of the solar lighting with FOB in building applications.

Keywords: solar lighting; concentrated solar energy; FOB; fibre optic bundles; exergy analysis; efficient buildings; solar power; energy efficiency; green buildings; mathematical modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2012.049744

International Journal of Exergy, 2012 Vol.11 No.2, pp.216 - 228

Received: 24 Jun 2011
Accepted: 09 Jan 2012
Published online: 14 Oct 2012 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article