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ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION OF A SOLAR THERMAL COLLECTOR WITH INTEGRATED STORAGE

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Date Issued:
2010
Abstract/Description:
Solar energy, a topic popular in the United States during the oil embargo of the 1970ÂÂ's, has become a relevant topic once more with the current focus on reducing greenhouse emissions. Solar thermal energy in particular has become popular as it uses existing steam turbine technology to produce electricity, with the benefit of using solar energy to produce steam rather than coal or nuclear heat sources. Solar thermal can also be used at lower temperatures to heat water for pools or for residential use. While this energy source has its benefits, it has the problem of being opportunistic – the energy must be used as it is captured. With the integration of storage, a solar thermal system becomes more viable for use. In this work, a low temperature (50-70o C) thermal storage unit with a solar thermal collector is experimentally run then studied using both analytical and numerical methods. With these methods, suggestions for future developments of the storage unit are made. The prototype collector and storage combination tested worked best during the winter months, when there was low humidity. Furthermore, the heat exchanger design within the storage unit was found to work well for charging (heating) the unit, but not for discharging the storage to heat water. The best modeling method for the storage unit was the use of FLUENT, which would allow for the suggested changes to the prototype to be simulated before the next prototype was constructed.
Title: ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION OF A SOLAR THERMAL COLLECTOR WITH INTEGRATED STORAGE.
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Name(s): Bonadies, Monica, Author
Kapat, Jay, Committee Chair
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2010
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Solar energy, a topic popular in the United States during the oil embargo of the 1970ÂÂ's, has become a relevant topic once more with the current focus on reducing greenhouse emissions. Solar thermal energy in particular has become popular as it uses existing steam turbine technology to produce electricity, with the benefit of using solar energy to produce steam rather than coal or nuclear heat sources. Solar thermal can also be used at lower temperatures to heat water for pools or for residential use. While this energy source has its benefits, it has the problem of being opportunistic – the energy must be used as it is captured. With the integration of storage, a solar thermal system becomes more viable for use. In this work, a low temperature (50-70o C) thermal storage unit with a solar thermal collector is experimentally run then studied using both analytical and numerical methods. With these methods, suggestions for future developments of the storage unit are made. The prototype collector and storage combination tested worked best during the winter months, when there was low humidity. Furthermore, the heat exchanger design within the storage unit was found to work well for charging (heating) the unit, but not for discharging the storage to heat water. The best modeling method for the storage unit was the use of FLUENT, which would allow for the suggested changes to the prototype to be simulated before the next prototype was constructed.
Identifier: CFE0003260 (IID), ucf:48548 (fedora)
Note(s): 2010-08-01
M.S.M.E.
Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Mechanical Materials and Aerospace Engineering
Masters
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): solar thermal
thermal storage
energy
renewable
hot water
numerical modeling
mathematical modeling
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003260
Restrictions on Access: private 2015-07-01
Host Institution: UCF

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