Published

2016-09-01

Finite element analysis of a solar collector plate using two plate geometries

Análisis de elemento finito de dos geometrías de placa plana de un colector solar

Keywords:

Absorber plate, finite element analysis, solar collector, efficiency, geometry (en)
Plato absorbedor, análisis de elemento finito, colector solar, eficiencia, geometría (es)

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Authors

  • Diego Manuel Medina Carril Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán
  • José Gonzalo Carrillo Baeza Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán
  • Ruben Dominguez Maldonado Universidad Anahuac Mayab
  • Francis Aviles Cetina Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán

The thermal behavior of an absorber plate in a solar collector is investigated using finite element analysis. The thermal behavior and efficiency of two absorber plate geometries are studied, using a typical solar collector with a rectangular profile as reference, and a proposed absorber plate with curved geometry. An analysis of the most important parameters involved in the design of the absorber plate was carried out, indicating that the curved geometry of the absorber plate yields an average efficiency ~25% higher than the conventional rectangular geometry. The results suggest that a curved profile made of materials such as aluminum with thermal conductivity higher than 200W/m°C, plate thickness of the order of 2-3mm and with a large density of tubes per unit area of the collector´s plate greatly benefits the thermal efficiency of the solar collector.

El comportamiento térmico de una placa de absorción en un colector solar se investigó usando análisis de elemento finito. Se investiga el comportamiento térmico y la eficiencia de dos geometrías de plato absorbedor, un colector solar típico con plato absorbedor rectangular, utilizado como referencia, y una propuesta con geometría curva. Un análisis de los parámetros más importantes que intervienen en el diseño de la placa de absorción se llevó a cabo, indicando que la geometría curva de la placa de absorción ofrece una eficiencia media ~25% mayor que la geometría rectangular convencional. Los resultados sugieren que un perfil curvado hecho de materiales tales como aluminio con conductividad térmica mayor a 200W/m°C, espesor de placa del orden de 2 a 3mm y una mayor densidad de tubos por unidad de área de la placa de absorción, beneficia en gran medida la eficiencia térmica del colector solar.

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Copyright (c) 2016 Diego Manuel Medina Carril, José Gonzalo Carrillo Baeza, Ruben Dominguez Maldonado, Francis Aviles Cetina

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