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Estimation and optimization of thermal performance of evacuated tube solar collector system

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Abstract

In this study, artificial neural networks (ANNs) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy (ANFIS) in order to predict the thermal performance of evacuated tube solar collector system have been used. The experimental data for the training and testing of the networks were used. The results of ANN are compared with ANFIS in which the same data sets are used. The R2-value for the thermal performance values of collector is 0.811914 which can be considered as satisfactory. The results obtained when unknown data were presented to the networks are satisfactory and indicate that the proposed method can successfully be used for the prediction of the thermal performance of evacuated tube solar collectors. In addition, new formulations obtained from ANN are presented for the calculation of the thermal performance. The advantages of this approaches compared to the conventional methods are speed, simplicity, and the capacity of the network to learn from examples. In addition, genetic algorithm (GA) was used to maximize the thermal performance of the system. The optimum working conditions of the system were determined by the GA.

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Abbreviations

A:

Collector area (m2)

Cp :

Specific heat (J/kg °C)

D:

Hydraulic diameter (m)

F′:

Collector efficiency factor

FR :

Heat removal factor

h:

Heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 K)

hw :

Wind convection coefficient (W/m2 K)

Hday :

Daily collectible radiation (J/m2)

I:

Solar radiation (W/m2)

k:

Thermal conductivity (W/m K)

ki :

Thermal conductivity of insulating material (W/m K)

\(\dot{m}\) :

Mass flow rate (kg/s)

M:

Water mass in the storage tank (kg)

N:

Number of glass covers

Pr :

Prandtl number

Re :

Reynolds number

t:

Thickness of insulating material (m)

ta :

Ambient temperature (°C)

ti :

Inlet temperature (°C)

tf :

Final temperature (°C)

tm :

Mean storage tank temperature (°C)

tp :

Temperature of absorber plate (°C)

UL :

Overall heat loss coefficient (W/m2 K)

UT :

Top heat loss coefficient (W/m2 K)

W:

Wind velocity (m/s)

\(\tau\) :

Transmittance of glass cover

\(\alpha\) :

Absorptance of absorber plate

\(\eta\) :

Thermal performance

\(\varepsilon_{p}\) :

Absorber plate emissivity

\(\varepsilon_{g}\) :

Emissivity of glass cover

\(\beta\) :

Collector tilt angle (°)

∆t:

Time interval

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technology Faculty, Süleyman Demirel University, 32260, Isparta, Turkey

    Erkan Dikmen, Mahir Ayaz, H. Hüseyin Ezen, Ecir U. Küçüksille & Arzu Şencan Şahin

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  1. Erkan Dikmen
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  2. Mahir Ayaz
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  3. H. Hüseyin Ezen
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  4. Ecir U. Küçüksille
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  5. Arzu Şencan Şahin
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Correspondence to Arzu Şencan Şahin.

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Dikmen, E., Ayaz, M., Ezen, H.H. et al. Estimation and optimization of thermal performance of evacuated tube solar collector system. Heat Mass Transfer 50, 711–719 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-013-1282-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-013-1282-0

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