A numerical model to evaluate the flow distribution in a large solar collector field

Bava, Federico; Dragsted, Janne; Furbo, Simon

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2016.12.029

Cited by 39 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The collector efficiency coefficients are listed in Table 1. The collectors had a tilt of 43° and an orientation of 2.5° W. A 35% propylene glycol/water mixture [31] circulated in the solar collector loop. The operating temperatures of the collector field depended on the supply and return temperatures in the DH network (see Section 2.2.1).…”

Section: Description Of the Solar Collector Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of different improvement measures on the thermal performance of a solar collector field for district heating

Bava

Furbo

2018

Energy

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The paper describes the impact of different measures to improve the thermal performance of a solar heating plant for district heating applications. The impact of the different measures was evaluated through a validated TRNSYS-Matlab model. The model included details such as effect of the flow regime in the absorber pipes on the collector efficiency, flow distribution in the collector field, thermal capacity of the pipes and shadows from row to row. The improvement measures included variation of the operating temperatures, accurate input to the control strategy, feedback control on the outlet temperature of the collector field, control strategy based on weather forecast and use of different heat transfer fluids. The results showed that accurate input to the control strategy improved the yearly energy output of the plant by about 3%. If accurate input is not technically or economically feasible, a feedback control on the field outlet temperature seemed to be a valid alternative. The integration of weather forecast in the control strategy did not give relevant improvements. Higher glycol concentrations in the solar collector fluid gave better results than lower concentrations, as the higher frost protection guaranteed by the former outweighed the better thermophysical properties of the latter.

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Section: Description Of the Solar Collector Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of different improvement measures on the thermal performance of a solar collector field for district heating

Bava

Furbo

2018

Energy

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“…This can easily lead to an advance or delay of the model response compared to reality. To address this problem, the TRNSYS model developed in this study was made interact with a previously validated Matlab model (Bava et al, 2017), so to accurately take into account the exact flow distribution across the collector field (see…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The declared collector efficiency is reported in Table 1. The row distance was 5.5 m. The collector tilt angle was 43° and the orientation 2.5° W. The solar collector fluid was a 35 % propylene glycol/water mixture (Bava et al, 2017). Normal operating temperatures for the collector field were of 50-55 °C in inlet and 90-95 °C in outlet.…”

Section: Collector Field Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Balancing valves were installed and regulated at the inlet of each collector row, to guarantee a uniform flow distribution across the collector field (Bava et al, 2017).…”

Section: Collector Field Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To take into account the flow distribution in the collector field, each single collector row was modeled. As TRNSYS cannot solve problems of flow distribution in hydraulic networks, Type 155 (Klein and et al, 2012) passed the necessary inputs to a Matlab program (Bava et al, 2017). Matlab evaluated the flow distribution in the different collector rows and returned the result to TRNSYS, where the total flow was then distributed to the different rows accordingly.…”

Section: Flow Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development and validation of a detailed TRNSYS-Matlab model for large solar collector fields for district heating applications

Bava¹,

Furbo²

2017

Energy

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Thermal–Hydraulic Performance of Flat‐Plate Solar Collector Plant Using Different Heat‐Transfer Fluids

Guo,

Mo,

Zhang

et al. 2024

Energy Tech

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The physical parameters such as density, specific heat capacity, and viscosity of the heat‐transfer fluid have an important influence on the performance of the solar collector system. If the physical parameters of heat‐transfer fluids are studied as constant physical properties, it will be difficult to reflect the influence of heat‐transfer fluids on the performance of the solar collector system. In this study, expressions are fitted for the physical parameters of heat‐transfer fluids and a coupled thermal–hydraulic performance model of the solar collector system is established. The coupled model is validated through performance‐testing experiments on the system and is used to investigate the impact of heat‐transfer fluid types and concentrations on the performance of the system under various solar radiation intensities, ambient temperatures, inlet temperatures, and flow rates. In the results, it is shown that in the case of anti‐freezing, a 50% volume concentration of ethylene glycol is more suitable for the heat‐collecting system. When selecting the heat‐transfer fluid, the heat‐transfer fluid with a lower concentration should be selected as far as possible while ensuring the freezing point. In the results of this study, a certain reference for the selection of the heat‐transfer fluid can be provided.

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A numerical model to evaluate the flow distribution in a large solar collector field

Cited by 39 publications

References 22 publications

Impact of different improvement measures on the thermal performance of a solar collector field for district heating

Impact of different improvement measures on the thermal performance of a solar collector field for district heating

Development and validation of a detailed TRNSYS-Matlab model for large solar collector fields for district heating applications

Thermal–Hydraulic Performance of Flat‐Plate Solar Collector Plant Using Different Heat‐Transfer Fluids

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