Installation and performance of parabolic trough solar collector | |
| Author | Wichayaphorn Phoonsap |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.ET-14-26 |
| Subject(s) | Parabolic troughs Solar collectors |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Energy |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Parabolic Trough Solar Collector (PTSC) is one type of concentrating solar collector with a variety of applications. In this research, theoretical and experimental studies to determine the performance were carried out. The theoretical study was evaluated by TRNSYS. The study was conducted for three cases. First, considered the influence of heat transfer fluid inlet temperature. Second studied the influence of fluid flow rate. The third was concerned about tracking error of PTSC. The result showed that inlet temperature, flow rate of heat transfer fluid and tracking error directly affects to the performance of PTSC. The flow rate rose from 500 kg/hr to 2000 kg/hr, it caused the outlet temperature fell by 20°C. Tracking error increased from 0% to 25% leads the decrease in thermal efficiency from 60.89% to 45.70% and useful energy from 10.23 kW to 7.68 kW. A PTSC was fabricated in North-South axis and tested at Energy Park, AIT. The PTSC consists of four main parts, including basement, receiver tube, parabolic mirror, and tracking system. At supply side, heat transfer fluid oil (Shell Thermia B) was circulated in the loop. The PTSC was connected to blazed plate heat exchanger which has area of 3 m2, a 9 kW auxiliary heater and oil pump. At the load side, heat exchanger was connected to water pump and water tank. The PTSC has aperture width of 19.584 m2, width 2.4 m and length 8.16 m. Experimental studies were carried out for nine days from10.00 am to 14.00pm. All experiments were tested at heat transfer fluid flow rate of 500 kg/hr, and water flow rate of 700 kg/hr. The inlet temperature was used at various four conditions from 45°C to 75°C. Experimental studies were conducted to find the characteristic values (FRηoandFRUL) of the PTSC. The values of FRηoandFRUL in this study are 0.629 and 56.1 W/m2.K respectively. In addition, comparison between theoretical and experimental results on the performance of PTSC was evaluated by mean absolute error. The results show good agreement which the values in range of 2.63°C -3°C for outlet temperature and 1.10 kW –2 kW for useful energy of PTSC. Recommendations and suggestions for further study are also given. |
| Year | 2014 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Energy Technology (ET) |
| Chairperson(s) | Kumar, Sivanappan; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Salam, Abdul P.;Singh, Jai Govind; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2014 |