Targeting and Design of Evacuated-Tube Solar Collector Networks

Abstract

In this work the structure of solar collector networks for the supply of thermal energy to low energy intensity industrial processes is determined. For a given solar radiation intensity it is shown that the inlet temperature is the design variable that has a major impact upon the surface area. Typically a solar collector network exhibits a structure which is a combination of series-parallel arrangement. In design, the number of lines in parallel is determined based on the total mass flow rate required and pressure drop specified while the number of collectors in series is established by the target temperature. The achievement of the process thermal requirements depends on the thermal performance of the collector technology as well as the availability of the solar radiation. This work focuses on the use of evacuated-tube solar collectors and presents an approach for the specification of the network structure required. The approach is demonstrated on a case study.