Modeling and Optimization of a Network of Evacuated Solar Collectors Attached to an Absorption Refrigeration System
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52151/jae2025621.1919Keywords:
Box-Behnken design, collector outlet temperature, response surface methodology, solar intensity, thermal efficiencyAbstract
The vapor absorption refrigeration system is an alternative cooling technology to vapor compression that can operate with low-grade energy sources, such as solar thermal energy. This study provides an analytical model, developed using heat and mass transfer equations in Microsoft EXCEL, to estimate the fluid outlet temperature of the collector (water), and thermal efficiency of the evacuated solar collectors as a function of inlet water temperature, solar intensity, and flow rate. To evaluate the optimum operating values to obtain the target hot water temperature required for operating the absorption system, a three-level Box-Behnken design matrix was generated using Design Expert-10 software selecting an appropriate input range, i.e., flowrate: 3 to12 L min-1, inlet water temperature: 25°C to 35°C, and solar intensity: 550 to1150 W m-2. Performance values (response) were evaluated using the developed thermal model, and values obtained were inserted for each generated input combination in the design matrix followed by an analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis. Equations were generated to predict responses after testing the significance of the response surface quadratic model. Results showed an increase in the collector fluid outlet temperature with a lower flow rate of collector fluid, higher ambient temperature and solar intensity. Optimization showed the optimal range of collector fluid outlet temperature between 83°C and 90°C and thermal efficiency of 37.45% to 39%. This study can lead to the development of more efficient system design including solar collectors by maximizing the utilization of solar energy.
Downloads
References
Aboulmagd, A., Padovan, A., De Césaro Oliveski, R., & Del Col, D. (2014). A new model for the analysis of performance in evacuated tube solar collectors. International High-Performance Buildings Conference, Paper 142. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/ihpbc/142
Abu-Hamdeh, N. H., & Al-Muhtaseb, M. A. (2010). Optimization of solar adsorption refrigeration system using experimental and statistical techniques. Energy Conversion and Management, 51(8), 1610-1615. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2009.11.048
Alelyani, S. M., Bertrand, W. K., Zhang, Z., & Phelan, P. E. (2020). Experimental study of an evacuated tube solar adsorption cooling module and its optimal adsorbent bed design. Solar Energy, 211, 183-191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.09.044
Almasri, R. A., Abu-Hamdeh, N. H., Esmaeil, K. K., & Suyambazhahan, S. (2022). Thermal solar sorption cooling systems - A review of principle, technology, and applications. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 61(1), 367-402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2021.06.005
Arora, S., Chitkara, S., Udayakumar, R., & Ali, M. (2011). Thermal analysis of evacuated solar tube collectors. Journal of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, 4(2), 74-82. https://doi.org/10.5897/JPGE.9000050
Assilzadeh, F., Kalogirou, S. A., Ali, Y., & Sopian, K. (2005). Simulation and optimization of a LiBr solar absorption cooling system with evacuated tube collectors. Renewable Energy, 30(8), 1143-1159. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2004.09.017
Bellos, E., Chatzovoulos, I., & Tzivanidis, C. (2021). Yearly investigation of a solar-driven absorption refrigeration system with ammonia-water absorption pair. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, 23, 100885. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsep.2021.100885
Budihardjo, I., & Morrison, G. L. (2009). Performance of water-in-glass evacuated tube solar water heaters. Solar Energy, 83(1), 49-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2008.06.010
Cascetta, F., Cirillo, L., Nardini, S., & Vigna, S. (2018). Transient simulation of a solar cooling system for an agro-industrial application. Energy Procedia, 148, 328-335. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2018.08.085
Chavda, T. V., Kumar, N., & Sreekumar, A. (2012). Development of Solar Powered Intermittent Adsorption Refrigeration System. Journal of Agricultural Engineering (India), 49(4), 48-53. https://doi.org/10.52151/jae2012494.1495
Datta, A K. (2001). Transport Phenomena in Food Process Engineering, First edition, Mumbai: Himalaya Publishing House. 276 p.
Deng, Y. C., Zhao, Y. H., Wang, W., Quan, Z. H., Wang, L. C., & Yu, D. (2013). Experimental investigation of performance for the novel flat plate solar collector with micro-channel heat pipe array (MHPA-FPC). Applied Thermal Engineering, 54(2), 440-449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2013.02.001
Ersoz, M. A. (2016). Effect of different working fluid use on the energy and exergy performance for evacuated tube solar collector with thermosyphon heat pipe. Renewable Energy, 96(Part A), 244-256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.04.058
Gao, Y., Fan, R., Zhang, X. Y., An, Y. J., Wang, M. X., Gao, Y. K., & Yu, Y. (2014). Thermal performance and parameter analysis of a U-pipe evacuated solar tube collector. Solar Energy, 107, 714-727. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2014.05.023
Hamed, M., Fellah, A., & Ben Brahim, A. (2014). Parametric sensitivity studies on the performance of a flat plate solar collector in transient behavior. Energy Conversion and Management, 78, 938-947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2013.09.044
Hans, V. S., Singh, R., & Singh, S. (2014). Comparative evaluation of packed bed and evacuated tube collector solar dryers for crop drying. Journal of Agricultural Engineering (India), 51(3), 42-48. https://doi.org/10.52151/jae2014513.1558
Hayek, M., Assaf, J., & Lteif, W. (2011). Experimental investigation of the performance of evacuated tube solar collectors under eastern Mediterranean climatic conditions. Energy Procedia, 6, 618-626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2011.05.071
Incropera, F. P., Dewitt, D. P., Bergman, T. L., & Lavine, A. S. (2007). Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, Sixth edition. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 490-515.
Iranmanesh, A., & Mehrabian, M. A. (2014). Optimization of a lithium bromide–water solar absorption coolingsystem with evacuated tube collectors using the genetic algorithm. Energy and Buildings, 85, 427-435. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.09.047
Kabeel, A. E., Khalil, A., Elsayed, S. S., & Alatyar, A. M. (2015). Modified mathematical model for evaluating the performance of water-in-glass evacuated tube solar collector considering tube shading effect. Energy, 89, 24-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2015.06.072
Kalogirou, S. A., Karellas, S., Braimakis, K., Stanciu, C., & Badescu, V. (2016). Exergy analysis of solar thermal collectors and processes. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 56, 106-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2016.05.002
Kavolynas, A., & Drejeris, R. (2015). Experimental investigation of energy characteristics of evacuated tube heat-pipe solar collector system. Proceedings of the 7th International Scientific Conference Rural Development, Aleksandras Stulginskis University, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.15544/rd.2015.004
Labus, J. M., Bruno, J. C., & Coronas, A. (2013). Review on absorption technology with emphasis on small capacity absorption machines. Thermal Science, 17(3), 739-762. https://doi.org/10.2298/TSCI120319016L
Martínez-Rodríguez, G., Fuentes-Silva, A. L., & Picón-Núňez, M. (2018). Solar thermal networks operating with evacuated-tube collectors. Energy, 146, 26-33. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2017.04.165
Mishra, D., & Siakhedkar, N. K. (2014). A study and theoretical analysis of evacuated tube collectors as solar energy conversion device for water heating. Advance Physics Letter, 1(3), 26-35. https://doi.org/10.1097/APL/41
Naghavi, M. S., Ong, K. S., Mehrali, M., Badruddin, I. A., & Metselaar, H. S. C. (2015). A state of-the-art review on hybrid heat pipe latent heat storage systems. Energy Conversion and Management, 105, 1178-1204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2015.08.044
Naik, B. K., Varshney, A., Muthukumar, P., & Somayaji, C. (2016). Modelling and performance analysis of U-type evacuated tube solar collector using different working fluids. Energy Procedia, 90, 227-237. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2016.11.189
Ndiaye, D. (2015). Simplified model for dynamic simulation of solar systems with evacuated tube collector. Procedia Engineering, 118, 1250-1257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2015.08.477
Nkwetta, D. N., & Smyth, M. (2012). Performance analysis and comparison of concentrated evacuated tube heat pipe solar collectors. Applied Energy, 98, 22-32. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.02.059
Nkwetta, D. N., Smyth, M., Zacharopoulos, A., & Hyde, T. (2012). Optical evaluation and analysis of an internal low-concentrated evacuated tube heat pipe solar collector for powering solar air-conditioning systems. Renewable Energy, 39(1), 65-70. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2011.06.043
Praene, J. P., Bastide, A., Lucas, F., Garde, F., & Boyer, H. (2007). Simulation and Optimization of a Solar Absorption Cooling System using Evacuated Tube Collectors. 9th REHVA World Congress 'WellBeing Indoors', Clima 2007, Jun 2007, Helsinki, Finland.
Razika, I., Nabila, I., Madani, B., & Zohra, H. F. (2014). The effects of volumetric flow rate and inclination angle on the performance of a solar thermal collector. Energy Conversion and Management, 78, 931-937. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2013.09.051
Siuta-Olcha, A., Cholewa, T., & Dopieralska-Howoruszko, K. (2021). Experimental studies of thermal performance of an evacuated tube heat pipe solar collector in Polish climatic conditions. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(12), 14319–14328. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-07920-3
Tiwari, A., & Sodha, M. S. (2007). Parametric study of various configurations of hybrid PV/ thermal air collector: experimental validation of the theoretical model. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 91(1), 17-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2006.06.061
Xia, E., & Chen, F. (2020). Analyzing thermal properties of solar evacuated tube arrays coupled with mini-compound parabolic concentrator. Renewable Energy, 153, 155-167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2020.02.011
Zhao, C., Wang, Y., Li, M., Zhao, W., Li, X., Du, W., & Yu, Q. (2020). Experimental study of a solar adsorption refrigeration system integrated with a compound parabolic concentrator based on an enhanced mass transfer cycle in Kunming, China. Solar Energy, 195, 37-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2019.11.056
Zhong, L., Jingjing, N., Xinyu, Z., Guoli, L., Changling, L., Lifeng, W., & Ruicheng, Z. (2012). Application of solar cooling system in a campus library in Hainan, China. Energy Procedia, 30, 730-737. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2012.11.083
Zhu, H., Guo, B., Geng, W., Chi, J., & Guo S. (2022). Simulation of an improved solar absorption refrigeration system with phase change materials. Energy Reports, 8, 3671-3679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2022.02.306
