Design and test of non-evacuated solar collectors with compound parabolic concentrators

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5624889· OSTI ID:5624889

Rabl, A; O'Gallagher, J; Winston, R

The intermediate range of concentration ratios (1.5X-10X) which can be achieved with CPC's without diurnal tracking provides both economic and thermal advantages for solar collector design even when used with non-evacuated absorbers. The present paper summarizes more than 3 years of research on non-evacuated CPC's and reviews measured performance data and critical design considerations. Concentrations in the upper portions of the practical range (e.g. 6X) can provide good efficiency (40% to 50%) in the 100/sup 0/C to 160/sup 0/C temperature range with relatively frequent tilt adjustments (12 to 20 times per year). At lower concentrations (e.g. 3X) performance will still be substantially better than that for a double glazed flat plate collector above about 70/sup 0/C and competitive below, while requiring only semi-annual adjustments for year round operation. In both cases the cost savings associated with inexpensive reflectors, and the optimal coupling to smaller, simple inexpensive absorbers (e.g. tubes, fins, etc.) can be as important an advantage as the improved thermal performance.

• Research Organization: Chicago Univ., IL (USA). Enrico Fermi Inst.
• OSTI ID: 5624889
• Report Number(s): EFI-79-42
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
COMPOUND PARABOLIC CONCENTRATORS
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
CONCENTRATION RATIO
DESIGN
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
PARABOLIC COLLECTORS
PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE TESTING
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TESTING
THERMAL EFFICIENCY