Comprehensive analyses of solar thermal module with booster mirror integration for adaptation to various application scenarios

Xiaomeng Chen, Daoliang Li, Xudong Yang and Yang Wang

Renewable Energy, 2023, vol. 217, issue C

Abstract: Integration of a booster mirror reflector enhances the performance of evacuated tube collector within a prescribed range of solar incidence angles and reject solar rays within others. Seasonal performance adjustment makes it possible to adapt to various scenarios with different seasonal application purposes, for example, only domestic hot water, only space heating, or both. In this study, a mathematical model describing the photo-thermal conversion of this solar module was developed and validated using experimental data. The dynamic contributions of the collector and mirror planes were decomposed, and the optimal combination configurations for adaptation to three different application scenarios in four representative Chinese cities were investigated through the rotation of both planes. The three scenarios were: Scenario 1, annual performance augmentation; Scenario 2, coldest month performance augmentation; and Scenario 3, winter performance augmentation and prevention of summer overheating. It was found that optimal performance was always achieved when the collector plane was perpendicular to the mirror plane in the three scenarios. Depending on the optimal configurations, in Scenario 1 the mirror reflector contributed 30–32% heat energy, in Scenario 2 the mirror reflector contributed 41–49% heat energy during the coldest months, and in Scenario 3 the mirror reflector contributed 40–47% heat energy during the entire heating season. The objective of this study was to develop a comprehensive tool to evaluate the photo-thermal performance of this solar module and determine optimal configurations for various application scenarios.

Keywords: Mirror reflector; Performance enhancement; Solar thermal; Performance adaption; Photo-thermal conversion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:217:y:2023:i:c:s0960148123011229

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2023.119207

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