Model of a Solar Collector/Storage System for Industrial Thermal Applications

Abstract

A model for the thermodynamic analysis of a non-stationary solar thermal system is described. The main system components are a parabolic tube collector and a steam accumulator, which provides heat for industrial processes. The use of exergy analysis leads to the identification of potentials for performance improvements. The rate of exergy destruction is calculated over a daily operation cycle, showing that the largest exergy destruction takes place at collector level. The effect of varying the volumetric flow rate per unit collector surface area is also discussed.

• This paper is an updated version of a paper published in the ECOS'08 proceedings. 

Keywords

• solar energy, thermal storage, industrial energy processes, exergy analysis

References

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