An Innovative Thermal Analysis Model for Continuous Operation of a Solar Collector

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arman Nokhosteen ◽  
Sarvenaz Sobhansarbandi
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Temperature Distribution ◽  
Solar Irradiation ◽  
Average Error ◽  
Solar Collectors ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Working Cycle ◽  
Time Operation ◽  
Boltzmann Method

Abstract Heat pipe evacuated tube solar collectors (HPETCs) are a type of solar collectors widely used in solar water heating (SWH) technologies. In order to optimize the design of SWHs, understanding the heat transfer phenomena in HPETCs is of paramount importance. The complexity of the heat transfer processes involved in modelling a collector’s performance render direct numerical simulations (DNS) computationally cumbersome. In this work, a novel hybrid numerical method is employed in order to simulate the thermal behaviour of HPETCs, both during day and night time operation. This method is comprised of a previously developed resistance network based proper orthogonal decomposition (RNPOD) method for simulation during operation hours were solar irradiation values are greater than zero; after which, an in-house code based on Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) has been utilized for simulation when irradiance is zero. This hybrid method is able to reduce simulation time and take into account the ambient working conditions of the collector and therefore, provide an accurate assessment of the temperature distribution inside the collector during the entirety of its operation during a full working cycle. The obtained results of this study are cross-validated with the previous experimental work of the authors, illustrating that the model is able to predict the peripheral temperature distribution with an average error of less than 10%.

Thermal Performance Evaluation of a Solar Collector Utilizing a Novel Resistance Network Model

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arman Nokhosteen ◽  
Sarvenaz Sobhansarbandi
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Temperature Distribution ◽  
Thermal Behavior ◽  
Maximum Error ◽  
Solar Collectors ◽  
Resistance Network ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Peripheral Temperature ◽  
Proper Orthogonal ◽  
Evacuated Tube

Abstract Heat pipe evacuated tube solar collectors (HPETCs) are a type of solar collectors with appealing characteristics for the application in solar water heating (SWH) technologies. In order to better understand the heat transfer phenomena in HPETCs and improve their efficiency, there is a need for a fast and robust numerical tool. Due to the complexity of the heat transfer processes involved in modeling a collector’s performance, direct numerical analysis solutions (DNS) are computationally cumbersome. Recent studies have shown that resistance network (RN) models are suitable tools for studying the performance and thermal behavior of HPETCs. In this work, a novel method of resistance network based proper orthogonal decomposition (RNPOD) is presented which can not only consider the geographical and meteorological characteristics of the ambient surroundings, but also take into account the peripheral temperature distribution of a single HPETC. Once the temperatures at each instance in time have been calculated, a POD method is used to predict the thermal behavior of the collector with desired temporal accuracy. The obtained results of this study are cross-validated with the previous experimental work of the authors, illustrating that the model is able to predict the peripheral temperature distribution with a maximum error of 10%.

scholarly journals 3D thermal modeling of two selected regions on comet 67P and comparison with Rosetta/MIRO measurements

2019 ◽  
Vol 630 ◽  
pp. A12
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Macher ◽  
Norbert Kömle ◽  
Yuri Skorov ◽  
Ladislav Rezac ◽  
Günter Kargl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Temperature Distribution ◽  
Cometary Nucleus ◽  
Model Potential ◽  
Solar Irradiation ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Radiation Boundary Conditions ◽  
Subsurface Layers ◽  
Radiation Boundary ◽  
Comet 67P

Context. The Microwave Instrument for the Rosetta Orbiter (MIRO) was one of the key instruments of the Rosetta mission, which acquired a wealth of data, in particular as the orbiter moved in the close environment of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (August 2014–September 2016). It was the only instrument of the Rosetta payload that was able to measure temperatures in the near-subsurface layers of the cometary nucleus down to a depth of some centimeters. This range is most relevant for understanding the mechanisms of cometary activity. Aims. We simulate the 3D temperature distribution for two selected regions that were observed by MIRO in March 2015 when the comet was at a distance of about 2 au from the Sun. The importance of a full 3D treatment for a realistic subsurface temperature distribution and the thermal heat balance in the uppermost subsurface is investigated in comparison with analogous 1D simulations. Methods. For this purpose, we developed a numerical heat transfer model of the surface as well as the near-subsurface regions. It enabled us to solve the heat transfer equation in the subsurface volume with appropriate radiation boundary conditions taken into account. The comparison with 1D simulations was made on the basis of the same solar irradiation history. Results. Although the temperature gradient is predominantly normal to the comet surface, we still find that tangential flows may be responsible for local temperature differences of up to 30 K (a few Kelvin on the average) in the uppermost subsurface layers. From the results of the 3D simulations, we calculated the MIRO antenna temperature. A comparison with the actual measurements shows good agreement for the MIRO submillimeter channel, but there is a notable discrepancy for the millimeter channel. This last assessment is not related to the use of the 3D model; potential causes are discussed in some detail with a view to future studies.

Numerical Simulation of Solidification Process for a Machine Tool Bed

2011 ◽  
Vol 675-677 ◽  
pp. 987-990
Author(s):  
Ling Tang ◽  
Xu Dong Wang ◽  
Hai Jing Zhao ◽  
Man Yao
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Temperature Field ◽  
Temperature Distribution ◽  
Machine Tool ◽  
Computation Time ◽  
Solidification Process ◽  
Field Calculation ◽  
Original Design ◽  
Calculation Results ◽  
Improved Design

In this paper, the flow, heat transfer and stress during solidification process of the machine tool bed weighed about 2.5ton that has been optimized by structural topologymethod, was calculated with ProCAST software, and the causes of the crack forming in the casting of the machine tool bed was analysed. According to the calculation results, the structural design of the local part where cracks tends to form has been improved, and the heat transfer and the stress are calculated again. By comparing the temperature field with filling of molten cast iron and without filling, it has been found that there was little effect of filling on the results of temperature distribution of the cast, therefore the effect of filling can be ignored in the following temperature field calculation to save computation time. The model has been simplified in the stress field calculation with considering the complexity of the machine tool bed and the cost of computation. Then, the merits and demerits of the original design and the improved design are compared and analyzed depending on the calculated temperature and stress results. It is suggested that the improved one could get a more uniform temperature distribution and then the trend of the crack occurring can be greatly reduced. These results could provide a guide for the actual casting production, achieving the scientific control of the production of castings, ensuring the quality of the castings.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document