Energy comparison of the optics and tracking system for evacuated solar thermal collector by using ray tracing analysis

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Published: Oct 7, 2018
Keywords:
Evacuated tube solar collector Ray tracing analysis solar thermal

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P. Premvaranon
National Metal and Materials Technology Center, 114 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Klong 1, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
A. Teralapsuwan
National Metal and Materials Technology Center, 114 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Klong 1, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand

Abstract

Evacuated tube solar collector is one of the feasible alternatives for heating demand application such as absorption chiller. They are mostly suitable for supplying outlet temperature up to 100oC. In this paper, we present a tracking evacuated tube solar collector with semi-parabolic reflector to improve the efficiency of glass tube solar collector. Firstly, the ray tracing analysis is employed to design the suitable optics for non-tracking glass evacuated tube solar collector. Next, the intensity and beam pattern on heat absorber of each optics is determined to select the appropriate optics. Then, to compare the energy between non-tracking and tracking solar tube collectors with reflector system, the total power on heat absorber and the total power per installation area during the daytime are figured out by using the sun position referring to the solar equation. According to the analysis, the presented tracking evacuated glass tube solar collector with reflector can drastically increase the power on heat absorber and power per installation area especially in the morning and evening. This model can be used to understand and predict the efficiency of the prototype for the better evacuated tube solar collector.

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How to Cite
Premvaranon, P., & Teralapsuwan, A. (2018). Energy comparison of the optics and tracking system for evacuated solar thermal collector by using ray tracing analysis. Journal of Research and Applications in Mechanical Engineering, 2(1), 74–83. Retrieved from https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jrame/article/view/149432
Issue
Vol. 2 No. 1 (2014)
Section
RESEARCH ARTICLES

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