Experimental investigation of the performance of compound parabolic collector (CPC) for low and medium temperature application

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the performance of the CPC for low and medium temperature applications. Study shows that process industries have a substantial necessity for low-medium temperature heat like hot air, steam, hot water, and hot oil being obtained from the conventional recourses. India is blessed with a strong solar energy capacity of around 5.7 kW h/m2/day. Solar concentrators can work best to meet the needs of the major part of India’s low-medium temperature process heat. At this point, Compound Parabolic Collector (CPC) found to be one of the promising non-imaging collectors which can be used with or without tracking, which leads to the cost reduction of the system. An experimental setup was prepared using optimum values fetched from the Taguchi method. It was observed that CPC design for 100 lit capacity with this design gives rise in temperature (ΔT) of around 70 °C with average solar radiation of around 900 W/m2 during sunny days. The study shows that it would fulfill the partial requirement of the textile process and sizing industry by reducing the consumption of coal, wood, etc., which will reduce carbon dioxide gas emissions. It would indirectly support the national target of the global sustainable development goal.

Keywords

• CPC
• Taguchi method
• Textile industry
• Hot water