The main objective of this work is to investigate the performance characteristics of two types of thermal receivers used in parabolic solar air heater (PSAH). Solar air heater performance was evaluated using a straight hierarchical square receiver with fins (Case 1) and a triangular receiver cavity with a copper tube (Case 2), both located at the focal length of a parabolic aluminum trough. The collector is assessed based on the temperatures at the heat exchangers’ output and the efficiency of the receiver. It has been observed that the Case 1 heat exchanger performs the system better than the Case 2 heat exchanger. The maximum outlet temperature of air achieved at an air flow rate of 0.0186 Kg/s is 46 ℃ and 43.7 ℃ at 13:00 PM when Case 1 and Case 2 are employed. The maximum efficiency achieved is 12% at 13:00 PM when the heat exchanger of Case 1 is employed and 10% with the use of the heat exchanger of Case 2.

Topics
Solar thermal technologies, Solar furnace, Engineering thermodynamics
1.
Tripathi
,
Brijesh
,
Pankaj
Yadav
,
Siddharth
Rathod
, and
Manoj
Kumar
. "
Performance analysis and comparison of two silicon material based photovoltaic technologies under actual climatic conditions in Western India
."
Energyconversionandmanagement
80
,
97
–
102
, (
2014
).
Google Scholar
 
2.
Sharma
,
Atul
. "
A comprehensive study of solar power in India and World
."
RenewableandSustainable EnergyReviews
15
(
4
),
1767
–
1776
, (
2011
).
Google Scholar
 
3.
Parida
,
Bhubaneswari
,
Selvarasan
Iniyan
, and
Ranko
Goic
. "
A review of solar photovoltaic technologies
."
Renewableandsustainableenergyreviews
15
(
3
),
1625
–
1636
, (
2011
).
Google Scholar
 
4.
Nain
,
Sunil
,
Sanjay
Kajal
, and
Anuradha
Parinam
. "
Thermal performance of desiccant-based solar air-conditioning system with silica gel coating
."
Environment,DevelopmentandSustainability
22
(
1
),
281
–
296
, (
2022
).
Google Scholar
 
5.
Wang
,
Fuqiang
,
Yong
Shuai
,
Yuan
Yuan
, and
Bin
Liu
. "
Effects of material selection on the thermal stresses of tube receiver under concentrated solar irradiation
."
Materials&Design
33
,
284
–
291
, (
2012
).
Google Scholar
 
6.
Singh
,
Panna Lal
,
R. M.
Sarviya
, and
J. L.
Bhagoria
. "
Thermal performance of linear Fresnel reflecting solar concentrator with trapezoidal cavity absorbers
."
AppliedEnergy
87
(
2
),
541
–
550
, (
2010
).
Google Scholar
 
7.
Qu
,
Ming
,
Hongxi
Yin
, and
David H.
Archer
. "
Experimental and model based performance analysis of a linear parabolic trough solar collector in a high temperature solar cooling and heating system
."
Journalof solarenergyengineering
132
(
2
),
401
–
412
, (
2010
).
Google Scholar
 
8.
Boyd
,
David A.
,
Ryszard
Gajewski
, and
Roderick
Swift
. "
A cylindrical blackbody solar energy receiver
."
SolarEnergy
18
(
5
),
395
–
401
, (
1976
).
Google Scholar
 
9.
Barra
,
O. A.
, and
L.
Franceschi
. "
The parabolic trough plants using black body receivers: experimental and theoretical analyses
."
SolarEnergy
28
(
2
),
163
–
171
, (
1982
).
Google Scholar
 
10.
Chou
,
Q. L.
,
X. S.
Ge
,
S. X.
Chen
, and
Y. F.
Li
. "
Numerical analysis of thermal characteristics of solar cavity receiver with absorber of a bundle of tubes
."
ActaEnergiaeSolarisSinica
16
(
2
),
21
–
28
, (
1995
).
Google Scholar
 
11.
Chou
,
Q.L.
,
Ge
,
X.S.
,
Chen
,
S.M.
 energy collector system with emulation mold of 4-dimensions thermal network numerical analysis of thermal characteristic “
Calculation of influence of optical properties of parabolic mirror and receiver window on thermal behavior of solar s of solar cavity receiver with absorber of a bundle of tubes
”
ActaEnergiaeSolSinica
18
(
3
),
307
–
13
, (
1997
).
Google Scholar
 
12.
Chou
,
Q. L.
,
X. S.
Ge
,
Y. F.
Li
,
S. X.
Chen
, and
L. J.
Liu
. "
The influence of environment condition on the heat efficiency of solar cavity receiver with absorber of a bundle of tubes
."
Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica
17
(
1
),
81
–
86
, (
1996
).
Google Scholar
 
13.
Chou
,
Q. L.
,
X. Q.
Li
,
G.
Xu
, and
X. S.
Ge
. "
The experiment validation of the dynamic simulation model for 3-dimensions thermal network of medium temperature solar collector system
."
ActaEnergiaeSolaris Sinic
20
(
2
),
196
–
199
, (
1999
).
Google Scholar
 
14.
Zhao
,
Ziwei
,
Fengwu
Bai
,
Xiliang
Zhang
, and
Zhifeng
Wang
. "
Experimental study of pin finned receiver tubes for a parabolic trough solar air collector
."
SolarEnergy
207
,
91
–
102
, (
2020
).
Google Scholar
 
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2024 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.
2024
Author(s)
You do not currently have access to this content.