A Comparison Study of Solar Thermal Collector Performance in the Tropics
Abstract
Over the recent years, awareness on integration of a solar thermal system for industrial process heating applications has been increased. In the Tropics, a huge potential on similar applications has been identified due to availability of abundant solar energy throughout the year. However, challenges lie on selection of an appropriate solar thermal collector for supplying required thermal energy to the industrial processes in tropical conditions with fluctuation irradiance and ambient high moisture air. A test methodology has been developed in order to evaluate the solar thermal collector efficiency via measured data, a model based time resolved simulation analysis. In this analysis, collectors were tested at an outdoor test facility in the tropical condition. Collector model was developed and optimized the collector parameters for validating the experimental results. The validated collector model was then utilized to determine the efficiency parameters of the collector. Thus, the proposed method of comparing the collector performance would provide a valuable basis for selection of the appropriate collector technology to be utilized in a large-scale solar thermal system for industrial heating applications.
Keywords
Solar thermal collector performance, Tropics, Industrial process heat.