Experimental and numerical studies of a U-shaped solar energy collector to track the maximum CPV/T system output by varying the flow rate

M. Imtiaz Hussain and Gwi Hyun Lee

Renewable Energy, 2015, vol. 76, issue C, 735-742

Abstract: In the last decade, no comprehensive numerical and experimental analyses have been performed to find the maximum possible power generation from a concentrated photovoltaic thermal (CPV/T) system by varying the flow rate of the fluid. This paper describes numerical and experimental studies of a U-shaped solar energy collector model of a CPV/T system, with the goal of determining the maximal thermal and electrical power outputs against a specific volumetric flow rate also called an optimum flow rate. The CPV/T system was based on the union of 8 triple junction solar cells, 8 SOG Fresnel lenses, effective dual-axis tracking, and a forced cooling system. Analyses were performed by changing the flow rate of the working fluid at a considered solar irradiation and ambient temperature. The thermal and electrical power outputs also varied with changes in the ambient temperature and available solar radiation. The relatively high value of CPV/T power was observed against the optimum flow rate at a given irradiation and ambient temperature. Analysis of the energy of the U- shaped solar energy collector system was evaluated experimentally. The numerical results and experimental measurements of the U-shaped solar energy collector model showed great harmony, with minimal deviations of <7% between them.

Keywords: U-shaped solar energy collector; Optimum flow rate; SOG fresnel lens; Numerical study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148114008349
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:76:y:2015:i:c:p:735-742

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2014.12.008

Access Statistics for this article

Renewable Energy is currently edited by Soteris A. Kalogirou and Paul Christodoulides

More articles in Renewable Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().