Simulation of a Standalone, Portable Steam Generator Driven by a Solar Concentrator

Mohamed Sabry, Mouaaz Nahas and Saud H. Al-Lehyani
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Mohamed Sabry: Physics Department, College of Applied Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
Mouaaz Nahas: Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Islamic Architecture, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
Saud H. Al-Lehyani: Physics Department, College of Applied Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia

Energies, 2015, vol. 8, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: Solar energy is a good solution for energy-deficiency problems, especially in regions such ?as rural areas in the Middle East that have not been electrified yet or are ?under electrification. In ?this paper, with the aid of a Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation, we propose a ?system that comprises a trough solar concentrator and a pipe—with flowing water—that ?is set in the concentrator focus. The aim of this work is to investigate the feasibility of generating steam ?from such a system as well as analyzing the generated steam quantitatively ?and qualitatively. Effects of variation of solar radiation intensity, ambient temperature, water ?flow rate and pipe diameter on the quantity and quality of the generated steam have been investigated. The results ?show that a quantity of about 130 kg of steam could be generated per day with a 0.01 m diameter with 0.0042 kg/s flowing water, although qualitatively, a narrower pipe achieves better performance than a wider one. About 74 kg of daily accumulated steam mass with a temperature >423 K could be achieved for a 0.005 m diameter tube compared to about 50 kg for the 0.01 m diameter tube. Steam quality factor is higher at all flow rates for the 0.005 m diameter tube compared to that of 0.01 m.

Keywords: solar energy; steam generation; Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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