Performance and Evaluation of Parabolic Solar Concentrator by Using Different Types of Material with or without Insulation

Abstract

The utilization of solar energy has garnered substantial attention as a sustainable solution to address the world\'s increasing energy demand. Parabolic solar concentrators, known for their ability to focus sunlight onto a single point, play a crucial role in enhancing solar energy collection efficiency. This study investigates the performance of parabolic solar concentrators, specifically focusing on the impact of utilizing different types of materials and the incorporation of insulation. Through comprehensive experimentation and analysis, this research assesses the efficiency of parabolic solar concentrators constructed from various materials, ranging from traditional metals to novel reflective coatings. Furthermore, the study evaluates the influence of incorporating insulation around the concentrator structure to mitigate heat losses, thus enhancing overall energy capture. The findings of this research contribute to a deeper understanding of the interplay between material selection, insulation integration, and solar energy concentration efficiency. This knowledge holds paramount importance in designing and optimizing solar concentrator systems for diverse applications, such as electricity generation and thermal heating. Ultimately, the outcomes of this study facilitate informed decision-making in selecting the most suitable materials and strategies for enhancing the performance of parabolic solar concentrators in harnessing renewable solar energy.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

The sun radiates an immense amount of energy, which serves as the primary source of energy on Earth. Other forms of energy, such as wind energy and fossil fuels, are ultimately derived from solar energy. Solar power, also known as renewable energy, involves harnessing radiant heat and light from the sun and converting it into electrical power or heat sources. This conversion is achieved through crystalline or amorphous silicon photovoltaic panels, with crystalline silicon panels being more popular due to their higher output per square inch.

A. The Sun's Energy

The sun, at the center of the solar system, emits electromagnetic radiation at a constant rate of 3.83×1026 W, releasing energy equivalent to that coming from a furnace at a temperature of about 6000 K. Although the sun's energy could theoretically meet the world's current energy demand if harvested from just 10 hectares of its surface, practical limitations prevent this from being feasible.

Several factors contribute to this limitation: the displacement of the earth from the sun, the earth's rotation, and the effects of the earth's atmosphere, which can reduce solar radiation reaching the earth's surface on cloudy days.

Solar radiation processes classified as follows.

1. Helio Thermal: This is the system solar energy in which the incident radiation on any surface is absorbed and turned into heat energy such as PDC, PTC
2. Helio Chemical: In which radiation between 0.3 and 1.0µ m can cause chemical reactions, sustain growth of plants and animals and through Photosynthesis converts exhaled carbon dioxide to breakable oxygen.
3. Helio Electrical: Solar radiation processes are classified as heliothermal, heliochemical, and helioelectrical. Heliothermal systems absorb incident radiation on a surface and convert it into heat energy, while heliochemical processes involve radiation between 0.3 and 1.0 µm causing chemical reactions and sustaining growth in plants and animals. Helioelectrical processes convert part of the radiation between 0.33 and 1.2 µm directly into electricity using photovoltaic cells.

The incoming solar radiation suffers depletion in the following ways:

• Absorption by the ozone in the upper atmosphere.
• Scattering by dry air.
• Absorption, scattering and diffuse reflection by suspended solid particles.
• Absorption and scattering by thin cloud layers.
• Absorption and scattering by water vapor.

B. Concentrated Solar Power System

Solar radiation can be converted into various forms of energy, including electricity, through photovoltaic cells, or it can be collected and used for heating purposes in a solar collector system. Concentrated solar power (CSP) plants produce electric power by converting solar energy into high-temperature heat using mirror configurations. The collected heat is then used to operate a conventional power cycle, such as a steam turbine or a stirling engine.

Solar heat collected during the day can also be stored in steam, liquid or solid media like molten salts, phase-changing salt mixtures. The surfaces of the collectors are low emission and high absorption of energy. Solar energy conversion is classified as shown in Figure 1.2.

Sun energy radiated as follows

• 7% ultraviolet light
• 47% visible light
• 46% infrared light
• This infrared sun light is converted into PV solar power
• The sun radiate approximately 1.4 kW/m2
• Solar cell efficiency approximately 10% to 15%

The experimental setup was built and installed at the solar energy lab of SRCEM College in Morena. Figure 2 depicts the developed solar concentrator without insulation. The parabolic reflector's major (a) and minor (b) axes are each 55 $ 53 inches long.The parabolic surface is covered with a 9mm thick aluminum sheet to maximize light reflection. The different temperatures are degreed using five thermocouples. During experiments, the solar concentrator is oriented east-west. From 11 am until 3 pm, the experiment was conducted using a solar concentrator.

II. SCOPE FOR FUTURE WORK

A. Using Aluminum Foil Without insulation and Using Aluminum Foil With insulation Time

Future experiments could focus on refining the insulation and heat retention materials, as well as exploring alternative methods to improve heat transfer efficiency. Additionally, studying the impact of external factors like wind or ambient temperature could provide valuable insights into the system's performance under real-world conditions and aid in its practical applications.

B. Using Silver Foil Without Insulation and Using silver Foil With Insulation Time

Future experiments could focus on refining the insulation materials, exploring alternative methods to improve heat transfer efficiency, and investigating the impact of external factors such as wind or ambient temperature on the system's performance. Additionally, assessing the practical applications of the system in real-world conditions would provide valuable insights for potential advancements.

Conclusion

A. Using Aluminum Foil Without insulation and Using Aluminum Foil With insulation Time The experiment involved comparing the use of aluminum foil with insulation, aluminum foil without insulation, and no aluminum foil to assess their impact on temperature variation and heat transfer. The conclusions derived from the provided data are as follows: 1) Effect of Aluminum Foil with Insulation: When using aluminum foil with insulation, the temperatures at the disk\'s outer surface (Tdiskouter) and center (Tcenter) were higher compared to the case without insulation. This indicates that the insulation, combined with aluminum foil, effectively trapped and distributed heat, resulting in higher temperatures within the disk. 2) Temperature Attenuation: Over time, the difference between the temperatures at the disk\'s outer surface and center decreased, indicating that the insulation and aluminum foil aided in distributing the heat more evenly across the disk. 3) Heat Loss and Efficiency: Despite the use of aluminum foil and insulation, there was still a significant amount of heat loss (Qloss) during the experiment. The efficiency (?) values obtained ranged from 0.0056% to 0.3466%, indicating that improvements are required to enhance the overall system\'s efficiency and reduce heat loss further. 4) Comparison with Aluminum Foil without Insulation: When comparing the results of using aluminum foil with and without insulation, it is evident that the presence of insulation improved the heat retention and distribution within the disk. The temperatures at both the outer surface and center of the disk were consistently higher when insulation was used. 5) Effect of Solar Radiation: The solar radiation data showed that the highest solar radiation intensity was observed around 12:00, correlating with the peak temperatures of the disk. This indicates that solar radiation had a significant influence on heating the disk and highlights its importance in the overall energy transfer process. 6) Practical Considerations: The use of aluminum foil with insulation, coupled with solar radiation, shows potential for harnessing and utilizing heat energy effectively. However, further improvements are necessary to optimize the system\'s efficiency, reduce heat loss, and enhance overall performance. B. Using silver Foil Without insulation and Using silica Foil With insulation Time The experiment compared the use of silver foil with and without insulation to assess their impact on temperature variation and heat transfer. The conclusions derived from the provided data are as follows: 1) Effect of Silver Foil with Insulation: The use of silica foil with insulation resulted in higher temperatures at both the outer surface (Tdiskouter) and center (Tcenter) of the disk compared to the case without insulation. This indicates that the insulation, in combination with silica foil, effectively trapped and distributed heat, leading to higher temperatures within the disk. 2) Temperature Attenuation: As the experiment progressed, the difference between the temperatures at the outer surface and centre of the disk decreased, suggesting that the insulation and silica foil aided in distributing heat more evenly across the disk. 3) Heat Loss and Efficiency: Despite the use of silica foil and insulation, there was still a significant amount of heat loss (Q loss) during the experiment. The efficiency (?) values ranged from 0.00647% to 0.3441%, indicating room for improvement to reduce heat loss and enhance the overall system\'s efficiency. 4) Comparison with Silica Foil without Insulation: When comparing the results of using silica foil with and without insulation, it is evident that the presence of insulation significantly improved heat retention and distribution within the disk. The temperatures at both the outer surface and center of the disk were consistently higher when insulation was used. 5) Effect of Solar Radiation: The solar radiation data showed that the highest solar radiation intensity occurred around 12:00, aligning with the peak temperatures of the disk. This indicates the crucial role of solar radiation in heating the disk and underscores the importance of harnessing solar energy for heat transfer. 6) Practical Considerations: The use of silica foil with insulation, in conjunction with solar radiation, demonstrates potential for effectively capturing and utilizing heat energy. However, further improvements are necessary to optimize the system\'s efficiency, reduce heat loss, and enhance its overall performance.

References

[1] Endeshaw Alemu Bekele, Venkata Ramayya Ancha(2022) Transient performance prediction of solar dish concentrator integrated with stirling and TEG for small scale irrigation system: A case of Ethiopia Received 16 April 2022; Received in revised form 4 May 2022; Accepted 8 September 2022/2405-8440/© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) [2] Gang Wang a, Zhen Zhang ,”Thermodynamic and optical analyses of a novel solar CPVT system based on parabolic trough concentrator and nanofluid spectral filter” The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Received 14 January 2022; Received in revised form 3 March 2022; Accepted 17 March 2022. This is an open access article under the CC BY license2214-157X/© 2022 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). [3] F.A. Essa, A.S. Abdullah, Wissam H. Alawee.(2021) Experimental enhancement of tubular solar still performance using rotating cylinder, nanoparticles’ coating, parabolic solar concentrator, and phase change material” 2214-157X/© 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). [4] T.A. de Bruin, W.G.J.H.M. van Sark(2022) Investigation of quantum dot luminescent solar concentrator single, double and triple structures: A ray tracing simulation studyAvailable online 21 December 2022/0272-8842/© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). [5] Karolina Papis-Fra?czek?, Maciej Zo?a?dek at el.”The possibilities of upgrading an existing concentrating solar thermal system — Case study.” Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 6th International Conference on Advances on Clean Energy Research, The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license 2352-4847/c 2021 ICACER, 2021 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). [6] Fatma Ezzahra Cherif ?, Habib Sammouda,”Optoelectronic simulation and optimization of tandem and multi-junction perovskite solar cells using concentrating photovoltaic systems” Received in revised form 24 August 2021,Accepted 7 September 2021The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). [7] Visakh Chittalakkotte a,?, Vinish Lazzar Vincent at el. Development of a solar energy based desalination system using a hyperboloid concentrator .Selection and Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Mechanical Engineering Congress 2019: Materials Science. Accepted 20 September 2020. [8] Li Lin, Yao Tian, Yu Luo, Chongqi Chen, Lilong Jiang. “A novel solar system integrating concentrating photovoltaic thermal collectors and variable effect absorption chiller for flexible co-generation of electricity and cooling”. Accepted 13 January 2020 Energy Conversion and Management 206 (2020) 112506/0196-8904/ © 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd [9] Venkata Ramayya Ancha “Transient performance prediction of solar dish concentrator integrated with stirling and TEG for small scale irrigation system: A case of Ethiopia” The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license2405-8440/© 2022 . Received 16 April 2022; Received in revised form 4 May 2022; Accepted 8 September 2022 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ [10] Faisal Masood, Nursyarizal B. Mohd Nor, Irraivan Elamvazuthi, R. Saidur, Mohammad Azad Alam, Javed Akhter, Mohammad Yusuf, Shahid M. Ali, Mohsin Sattar, Maveeya Baba “The compound parabolic concentrators for solar photovoltaic applications: Opportunities and challenges”/Received in revised form 10 September 2022 Accepted 2 October 2022/ 2352-4847/© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). [11] .Xiao Gong, Shuyang Zheng, Xiujian Zhao, Alberto Vomiero “Engineering high-emissive silicon-doped carbon nanodots towards efficient large-area luminescent solar concentrators” Received 29 April 2022; Received in revised form 25 June 2022; Accepted 17 July 2022/Available online 19 July 2022/ 2211-2855/© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). [12] Milad Rastkar Mirzaei a , b , d , ? , d , Masoumeh Nazari b , d Design and optimization of graphene quantum dot-based luminescent solar concentrator using Monte-Carlo simulation Received 15 March 2021; Received in revised form 4 October 2021; Accepted 5 October 2021 Available online 28 October 2021 2666-1233/Copyright © 2021 Southwest Jiatong University. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communication Co. Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ )

Copyright

Copyright © 2023 Sanjay Kumar, Amit Agrawal. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.