Design and Optical Performance of Compound Parabolic Solar Concentrators with Evacuated Tube as Receivers

Qiang Wang, Jinfu Wang and Runsheng Tang
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Qiang Wang: Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology and Preparation for Renewable Energy Materials, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
Jinfu Wang: Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology and Preparation for Renewable Energy Materials, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
Runsheng Tang: Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology and Preparation for Renewable Energy Materials, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China

Energies, 2016, vol. 9, issue 10, 1-16

Abstract: In the present article, six symmetric compound parabolic solar concentrators (CPCs) with all-glass evacuated solar tubes (EST) as the receiver are designed, and a comparative study on their optical performance is performed based on theoretical analysis and ray-tracing simulations. In terms of optical loss through gaps of CPCs and optical ef?ciency averaged for radiation over the acceptance angle, CPC-6, designed based on a ?ctitious “hat”-shaped absorber with a “V” groove at the bottom, is the optimal design, and CPC-1, designed based on the cover tube, is the worst solution, whereas from the point of view of the annual collectible radiation on the EST, it is found that CPC-4, designed based on a ?ctitious “ice-cream” absorber, is the optimal design and CPC-1 is the worst solution. CPC-6, commonly regarded as the best design in the past, is not an optimal design in terms of annual collectible radiation after truncation. Results also indicate that, for high temperature applications, CPC-6 and CPC-4 are advisable due to the high solar ?ux on the EST resulting from the high optical ef?ciency for radiation within the acceptance angle.

Keywords: all-glass evacuated solar tube (EST); compound parabolic solar concentrator (CPC); optical ef?ciency; annual collectible radiation; optimal design (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: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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