Abstract
The analysis of solar thermal systems through numerical simulation is of great importance, since it allows predicting the performance of many configurations in any location and under different climatic conditions. Most of the simulation tools are commercial and require different degrees of training; therefore, it is important to develop simple and reliable methodologies to obtain similar results. This study presents a parametric methodology to size stationary solar collector fields, with operating temperatures up to 150 °C. The costs of the collector loop piping and the pumping power of different series–parallel arrays is considered. The proposed tool was validated with experimental data and through simulations using commercial software. The tool allows establishing series–parallel arrays and calculates the volume of the storage tank according to the thermal load. The calculation is based on the system energy balance, where the mass flow and the heat losses in the interconnections of the collectors are taken into account. The number of collectors and the optimal series–parallel array were determined. The results show deviations lower than 7% in the relative error of the temperature profiles and in the solar fraction, with respect to the results obtained by dynamic simulations.
Highlights
There are several industrial processes that require heat from 60–250 ◦ C [1], where this heat can be provided with solar thermal systems
The developed model requires the geographical position of the site, solar irradiation, and meteorological data generated hourly from a typical meteorological data generated hourly from a typical meteorological year (TMY), the temperature of the water supply, the temperature required by the process, the slope of the collectors, and the profile of the thermal load
The heat exchanger effectiveness was set up with a value similar to a compact type, that corresponds to a heat capacity meteorological year (TMY), the temperature of the water supply, the temperature required by the process, the slope of the collectors, and the profile of the thermal load
Summary
There are several industrial processes that require heat from 60–250 ◦ C [1], where this heat can be provided with solar thermal systems. Farjana et al [4] reported a global review about the potential application of solar technologies to industrial processes and sectors where solar heat is currently used, as well as the solar technologies available, the heat demand of industries and their temperature ranges. Among their main findings is the current limitation to insert solar heating technologies directly into the processes, which is related to the high initial investment costs
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