Performance Research On Serpentine Compound Parabolic Concentrator Solar Collector

Solar energy as an inexhaustible, incessant use and renewable energy will have a wide application prospect. Solar energy collectors are key parts in solar thermal utilization. The quality of collected solar energy is directly affected by the collector’s performance.The current situation of the energy is briefly introduced; the development of solar collector is analyzed, which is the basis of this study. Some improvements are made with the ideas by my team members and a new novel solar collector named Serpentine Compound Parabolic Concentrator (SCPC) solar collector is developed. It integrates the common CPC solar collector and flat-plate solar collector technologies, as an innovation. Compared with CPC solar collector, the SCPC solar collector’s receiver is set serpentine, constituting modular structure.This paper analyzes the working principle of collecting heat at the first. The parameters of equations are given. The structure of the collector is designed. The solar radiation absorption model and the heat transfer model of the SCPC solar collector are set up. They are solved by Matlab software. The heat exchange situation and performance for SCPC solar collector are studied.The experimental SCPC collector prototype and experimental system are built up. According to the relevant national standard, the collector experimental contents are decided. The experiment is investigated and the performance parameters of the collector are obtained. The accuracy and reliability of the mathematical model is verified. The results show that, SCPC solar collector has high thermal efficiency. Instantaneous efficiency experiment is also carried out. The test data are fitted to get the efficiency instantaneous curve with the least square method. The heat loss coefficient is obtained.On the basis, the numerical simulation on the SCPC solar collector is taken on. The tube length, pipe diameter and parabolic trough width parameters etc on the thermal performance of SCPC solar collector are discussed. Working on the analyzing results, the optimal design scheme is proposed, which is useful for the betterment design and the matching parameters.