Comparative Numerical Analysis of Middle-Temperature and High Temperature versions of High-Vacuum Flat-Plate Collectors: Assessing Performance in the Field.
Abstract
High Vacuum Flat Plate Collectors (HVFPCs) stand as a highly promising solution for renewable thermal energy generation. At present, TVP-Solar exclusively manufactures HVFPCs tailored for middle-temperature (MT) applications, with a maximum operating temperature of 200 °C. Recent advancements have yielded optimized absorbers designed for HVFPCs, enabling them to attain elevated temperatures (HT) up to 300 °C via optimization of optical parameters, thus effectively ameliorating the prevailing radiative losses affecting HVFPCs. This study employs dynamic simulation to analyze the daily performance of an HVFPCs test field. Our primary objective is to compare the performance of MT and HT HVFPCs configurations within the field, operating at temperatures of 150, 200 and 250 °C. The results of the numerical analysis not only highlight the advantage of the optimized technology but also serve as a robust cornerstone for future undertakings, particularly in the formulation of advanced control strategies tailored for HT HVFPC-equipped fields.