{"title":"Experimental Investigation of a Small-Scale Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Power Systems","authors":"Ismael A. S. Ehtiwesh","doi":"10.35378/gujs.1311796","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Large-scale systems have a lower levelized cost of electricity than small-scale concentrated solar power systems. Thus, the purpose of the present study is to evaluate the potential of using standalone small-scale concentrated solar power collectors in order to generate process heat at a moderate temperature, which directly utilizes thermal energy without the need to generate electricity. A parabolic trough collector (3.6m2) was designed and manufactured, including a dual-axis solar tracking system with and without an insulating function. An insulating cavity was incorporated to minimize the heat losses collected by the absorbed tube. The experiments were carried out during a time of high winds and unfavorable weather in Sabratha City. The findings of the experiments demonstrated that the produced temperature and the collected heat energy progressively increase until they reach their maximum value, and then gradually decrease. The maximum water temperature was 96ºC at a flow rate of 0.5L/min, and the highest amount of heat energy was 550W/m². Wind speed showed an important impact on the produced temperature; therefore, various comparative experiments were carried out in the same climate condition; the experiment with the insulating function presented the least heat loss, and it takes a higher edge of 11% in terms of efficiency. In addition, the water temperature rose to 120°C where steam was generated at a zero flow rate, while the oil reached 194ºC. In addition, a mathematical model was also implemented to theoretically study energy balance; with little expected discrepancy, its predictions and the experimental results agreed. In conclusion, the results presented reasonable markers of interest despite the poor environmental conditions during the experiments.","PeriodicalId":12615,"journal":{"name":"gazi university journal of science","volume":"5 1-3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0000,"publicationDate":"2023-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"gazi university journal of science","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.35378/gujs.1311796","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Large-scale systems have a lower levelized cost of electricity than small-scale concentrated solar power systems. Thus, the purpose of the present study is to evaluate the potential of using standalone small-scale concentrated solar power collectors in order to generate process heat at a moderate temperature, which directly utilizes thermal energy without the need to generate electricity. A parabolic trough collector (3.6m2) was designed and manufactured, including a dual-axis solar tracking system with and without an insulating function. An insulating cavity was incorporated to minimize the heat losses collected by the absorbed tube. The experiments were carried out during a time of high winds and unfavorable weather in Sabratha City. The findings of the experiments demonstrated that the produced temperature and the collected heat energy progressively increase until they reach their maximum value, and then gradually decrease. The maximum water temperature was 96ºC at a flow rate of 0.5L/min, and the highest amount of heat energy was 550W/m². Wind speed showed an important impact on the produced temperature; therefore, various comparative experiments were carried out in the same climate condition; the experiment with the insulating function presented the least heat loss, and it takes a higher edge of 11% in terms of efficiency. In addition, the water temperature rose to 120°C where steam was generated at a zero flow rate, while the oil reached 194ºC. In addition, a mathematical model was also implemented to theoretically study energy balance; with little expected discrepancy, its predictions and the experimental results agreed. In conclusion, the results presented reasonable markers of interest despite the poor environmental conditions during the experiments.
期刊介绍:
The scope of the “Gazi University Journal of Science” comprises such as original research on all aspects of basic science, engineering and technology. Original research results, scientific reviews and short communication notes in various fields of science and technology are considered for publication. The publication language of the journal is English. Manuscripts previously published in another journal are not accepted. Manuscripts with a suitable balance of practice and theory are preferred. A review article is expected to give in-depth information and satisfying evaluation of a specific scientific or technologic subject, supported with an extensive list of sources. Short communication notes prepared by researchers who would like to share the first outcomes of their on-going, original research work are welcome.