Development of an Optical Guide for Parabolic Dish Solar Collectors
Abstract
With the possibility of a global energy crisis on the horizon, the need for renewable energy processes is more crucial than ever before. Solar energy, specifically solar concentrated collectors can provide a green alternative to fossil fuel consumption, but several factors need to be considered to improve their efficiency and make them viable. The present research is aimed at the development of a novel “Optical Guide” to improve performance of traditional thermal receivers in Parabolic Dish Solar Collectors for use in a domestic solar water heater with PCM latent heat storage integration. Two ray trace programs, SolTrace and Tracer were used to model heat flux distributions developed at the bottom of the optical guide for various altitude angles with results indicating SolTrace to be the most accurate modelling tool for high resolution, reliable flux profiles. Generated flux distributions can be used to model heating mechanisms in the thermal storage unit, once favourable profiles for selected PCMs are determined. Mathematical modelling of the heat exchanger with integrated PCM, conducted under several assumptions to simplify heat transfer mechanisms, will be used to provide the framework for detailed development of the thermal storage system.