Experimental and numerical analysis of an asphalt solar collector with a conductive asphalt mixture

Abstract

Asphalt solar collectors (ASCs) have emerged as a promising renewable energy source. They offer a practical solution for generating renewable energy and thereby reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. In this study, a computational analysis and experimental validation of an ASC with a conductive asphalt mixture were conducted. The ASC that was investigated had 3000 mm long serpentine copper tubes positioned at the center of a 1000 mm ×60 mm ×8 mm sample of hot-mix asphalt. Ten 250 W infrared bulbs installed in two rows served as the simulated heat source of the ASC. The ASC had a water flow in the range of 14–97 L⁄h and solar intensities of 600, 800, and 1000W/m2. The thermal response of the ASC was modeled using the COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6.0.280 heat-transfer module. The experimental results indicted that the efficiency of the ASC was 53.56% or 64.1% with either reference or conductive mixtures, respectively. When a conductive mixture was used in the ASC, its surface temperature decreased by 11.37% when compared to that obtained using the reference mixture. The numerical simulation revealed that the average deviation between the numerical and experimental temperature data of the water that flowed within the ASC tubes was between 6% and 14%. The use of conductive asphalt mix would enhance the thermal performance of ASCs.