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Heat transfer analysis of an elevated linear absorber with trapezoidal cavity in the linear Fresnel reflector solar concentrator system

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Abstract

This paper describes various aspects of the design methodology and heat transfer calculations for an elevated linear absorber. The absorber is a part of the linear Fresnel reflector solar concentrator system, in which hot fluid is generated. The design of the absorber is an inverted trapezoidal air cavity with a glass cover enclosing a multi tube absorber. In a trapezoidal cavity absorber, a set of linear multi tube absorber with plate (named as “plane surface”) and without plate (named as “tube surface”) underneath are considered. An analytical simulation is done for different gaps between the tubes and for different depths of the cavity. A better design of the absorber is found out to maximize the heat transfer rate supplied to the absorber tube fluid. Also, the experimentally obtained overall heat loss coefficients are compared with the analytical values for the considered arrangements of absorber set up and results are discussed in details.

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Abbreviations

Ac :

Area of the transparent cover placed at the bottom [m2]

Ap :

Absorber plate area [m2]

Ar :

Absorber tubes surface area [m2]

c:

Specific heat of water [kJ/kgK]

De :

Distance between the absorber surface and transparent cover [mm]

do :

Outer diameter of tubular absorber [m]

di :

Inner diameter of tubular absorber [m]

f:

Height of tubular absorber from the reflector frame [m]

g:

gap between the absorber tubes [mm]

h:

Heat loss coefficient from the absorber surface [W/m2-K]

hco :

Convection heat loss coefficient from the bottom glass surface [W/m2-K]

hcp :

Convection heat loss coefficient from the absorber surface [W/m2-K]

hro :

Radiation heat loss coefficient from the bottom glass surface [W/m2-K]

hrp :

Radiation heat loss coefficient from the absorber surface [W/m2-K]

m:

mass flow rate of the fluid [kg/s]

Nu:

Nusselt number

Ra:

Rayleigh number

Re:

Reynolds Number

Ta :

Ambient temperature [°C]

Tc :

Cover temperature [°C]

Ti :

Fluid inlet temperature [°C)]

To :

Fluid outlet temperature [°C]

Tp :

Absorber plate temperature [°C]

Ts :

Absorber surface temperature [°C]

Ul :

Overall heat loss coefficient [W/m2 °K]

W:

Width of the absorber plane [m]

z:

constant used to find Nusselt number

ɛc :

Emissivity of the cover

ɛp :

Emissivity of the plate

σ:

Stefan Boltzman constant

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Automobile Engineering, SSM Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dindigul, 624 002, Tamil Nadu, India

    R. Manikumar

  2. SSM Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dindigul, 624 002, Tamil Nadu, India

    R. Palanichamy

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai, 625015, Tamil Nadu, India

    A. Valan Arasu

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  3. A. Valan Arasu
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Manikumar, R., Palanichamy, R. & Valan Arasu, A. Heat transfer analysis of an elevated linear absorber with trapezoidal cavity in the linear Fresnel reflector solar concentrator system. J. Therm. Sci. 24, 90–98 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-015-0760-8

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