Development of a low-cost non-tracking heat pipe concentrating collector

Technical Report · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:5528387

Feldman, Jr, K T; Noreen, D L

A solar water heater which uses a multi-heat-pipe energy absorber is proposed. In the absorber configuration, wickless heat pipes which rely on only gravity and a puddle-flow mechanism are used. In order to design an energy absorber with sufficient heat transfer capability, the performance of a puddle-flow gravity-assisted heat pipe is theoretically investigated. Three low-temperature heat pipe working fluids were considered in this analysis. The maximum heat transport capability of methanol, water, and Freon-11 heat pipes was investigated. The relationship between various heat pipe parameters and axial heat transport capability is discussed. To determine the performance of a solar water heater which uses a multi-heat-pipe energy absorber, a theoretical model is developed and experimentally validated. The collection efficiency is found to vary markedly with the number of energy absorber heat pipes, coating emittance, and the ambient weather cycle.

• Research Organization: New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces (USA). New Mexico Energy Inst.
• OSTI ID: 5528387
• Report Number(s): EMD-78-2125; NMEI-23
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140907 -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Water Heating
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
ALCOHOLS
APPLIANCES
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
DESIGN
DIAGRAMS
DOCUMENT TYPES
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
FLOW MODELS
FLUIDS
FREONS
GAS APPLIANCES
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HEAT PIPES
HEAT TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
HEATERS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INCIDENCE ANGLE
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METHANOL
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
REFRIGERANTS
REVIEWS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR TRACKING
SOLAR WATER HEATERS
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
WATER
WATER HEATERS
WORKING FLUIDS