Performance investigation of parabolic trough solar collector integrated with thermal energy storage system

Following conclusions can be drawn from the work carried out in context of the integration of the thermal energy storage system with parabolic trough collector. 1)   Integration of the thermal energy storage system with parabolic trough collector leads to increase in outlet temperature of air and the instantaneous collector efficiency at low solar radiation intensity after sunset. The maximum enhancement in the parabolic trough collector efficiency has been observed at mass flow rate of 0.0044 kg/sec is 17%. 2)   Energy can be stored in the thermal energy storage system during the daytime can be retrieved from the same in order to increase the outlet temperature of the air even at low solar radiation intensity which occurs after sunset. 3)   Higher temperature rise across the PTC is observed at maximum mass flow rate of 0.0044 kg/sec when parabolic trough collector is integrated with the thermal energy storage system. The maximum temperature rise obtained at this mass flow rate of air is 100C. 4)   Thus for air heating systems the parabolic trough collector based systems finds more suitable than flat plate collector based system in context of the temperature rise. Extending the same collector with integration of thermal energy storage system further leads to supply the air at higher temperature and enhanced collector efficiency. 5)   The proposed work can be applied  to solar dying applications where use of solar energy can be extended in night time when solar radiations are not available.

1.    Muhammad Aamir khan,(2013), Development of a Small Scale Concentrating  Parabolic trough Solar Collector for Drying Purposes Journal of Engineering International, Volume 1, No . 2.    James stiling and Pieter stroeve. (2012) Performance evaluation of an enhanced fruit solar dryer using concentrating panels. Energy for sustainable development. Vol.16, pp. 224-230. 3.    Daniel M. Blake, Luc Moensa, Mary Jane Halea, Henry Pricea, David Kearney, and Ulf Herrmannc,(2002), “New Heat Transfer and Storage Fluids for Parabolic Trough Solar Thermal Electric Plants”, September 4-6. 4. Jiang Tao Liu, Ming Li, Qiong Fen Yu, and De Li Ling, (2014),A Novel Parabolic Trough Concentrating Solar Heating for Cut Tobacco Drying System, International Journal of Photoenergy, Article ID 209028, 10 pages. 5. AtulSharma,V.V. Tyagi ,C.R. Chen, D. Buddhi,(2009),Review on thermal energy storage with phase change materials and applications, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 13, 318–345. 6. Morrison DJ, Abdel Khalik SI.,(1978), Effects of phase change energy storage on the performance of air-based and liquid-based solar heating systems. Solar Energy;20:57–67. 7. Ghoneim AA, Klein SA.,(1989), The effect of phase change material properties on the performance of solar air-based heating systems. Solar Energy; 42(6):441–7. 8. Jurinak JJ, AdbelKhalik SI.,(1979), On the performance of air-based solar heating systems utilizing phase change energy storage. Solar Energy; 24:503–22. 9. Buddhi D, Sharma SD, Sharma A.,(2003),Thermal performance evaluation of a latent heat storage unit for late evening cooking in a solar cooker having three reflectors. Energy Convers Manage; 44(6):809–17. 10.             Enibe SO.,(2002), Performance of a natural circulation solar air heating system with phase change material energy storage. Renew Energy; 27:69–86. 11.             Zhou G, ZhangY, Zhang Q, Lin K, Di H.,(2007), Performance of a hybrid heating system with thermal storage using shape-stabilized phase-change material plates. ApplEnergy ;84(10):1068–77. 12.             Alkilani, M. M., Sopian, K., Sohif, M., Alghoul, M.A.,(2009),Output Air Temperature Prediction in a Solar Air Heater Integrated with Phase Change Material, European Journal of Scientific Research, 27 (2009), 3, pp. 334-341.