The effect of variation of angle of inclination on the performance of low-concentration-ratio compound parabolic concentrating solar collectors

Abstract

Thermal heat transfer in line-axis, symmetric, compound parabolic concentrating solar energy collectors (CPCs) has been investigated and a theoretical numerical model has been developed. The model allows the effect of the angle of axial inclination of an east-west aligned CPC and hence the effect of the latitudinal and tracking configuration of the CPC system on performance to be determined. The internal and external convective heat transfer correlations employed are angular dependent. The variation of convective, radiative, conductive and overall heat transfer coefficients and system efficiency for a range of angular inclinations, concentration ratios, total insolations and beam to diffuse insolation factors are presented graphically. The results demonstrate that there is a 10% variation in convective heat transfer with angle of inclination for low concentration CPCs (i.e. C = 1.5).