Transient Operation and Simulation of a Flat Plate Solar Collector with Tank and Thermal Storage
Abstract
Global warming due to over usage of fossil fuels is leading to different kinds of pollutions. Global warming can be controlled by switching non-renewable fossil fuels with renewable alternative power sources like wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and ocean. Solar power is the most prominent alternative source around the world. Solar power is being used as alternative power source in almost all countries around the globe. Solar power uses radiation from sun to produce heat and the heat used for different heating and cooling applications whereas electricity being one of them. Solar power is being used in domestic applications as water heaters. A solar collector is used to transfer energy from sun to heat water. A flat plate solar collector is commonly used for water heating systems. Solar radiation is not available entire day as other alternative energy sources so there may be a need to store the collected radiation using a thermal storage system. This study considers a solar collector system with a storage tank and phase change material (PCM). The simulation of a transient process using one-dimensional mathematical model for the collector and storage system with phase change materials (PCMs) is presented. The collector used in this study is a flat plate model and paraffin wax encapsulated in aluminum cylinders as phase change material (PCM). The thermal energy gained by solar radiation can be stored for longer period in a system which has phase change materials (PCMs) due to latent heat storage or enthalpy of fusion. This study builds on previous work [Saleh, 2015]. A mathematical model is developed using differential equations with an implicit finite difference method for both flat plate collector and thermal storage system with PCMs. The mathematical model and computer code developed in this study allow for measured time-varying ambient temperature and irradiance as inputs. The model and computer code also allow for PCM to be included in the thermal storage system. The core experiment used in the study was initially built by a Purdue University Fort Wayne capstone senior design team. The modifications to the original experiment include new piping, a new pump, and a new data acquisition system along with reconfiguration of the cart for improved access and maneuverability. Two different experiments, with and without phase change materials in the reservoir, are performed. The simulations and measurements show reasonable agreement.
Degree
M.Sc.
Advisors
Abu-Mulaweh, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Design|Alternative Energy|Atmospheric sciences|Climate Change|Condensed matter physics|Energy|Fluid mechanics|Information science|Mathematics|Mechanics|Physics|Thermodynamics
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