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Solar Energy Technology - 32

This document discusses the φ, f-chart method for modeling solar energy systems and accounting for tank losses and finite heat exchangers. It explains how to treat tank losses as an additional load on the system and how a heat exchanger enhances the minimum collection temperature. An example problem is then presented to calculate key parameters like critical radiation level, non-dimensional critical radiation level, monthly average daily utilizability, and solar load fraction for a process heating system in January.

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Prithviraj Netke
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50 views

Solar Energy Technology - 32

This document discusses the φ, f-chart method for modeling solar energy systems and accounting for tank losses and finite heat exchangers. It explains how to treat tank losses as an additional load on the system and how a heat exchanger enhances the minimum collection temperature. An example problem is then presented to calculate key parameters like critical radiation level, non-dimensional critical radiation level, monthly average daily utilizability, and solar load fraction for a process heating system in January.

Uploaded by

Prithviraj Netke
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Solar Energy Technology -32

V.V.Satyamurty
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Kharagpur 721302, INDIA
Lecture 32 The  , f – Chart Method-II
Tank Losses and Finite Heat Exchanger
It has been noted that the  , f – Chart
correlation,
 
f   maxY  0.015 exp  3.85 f   1 1  exp 0.15 X '   RS0.76
 
takes into account, the non-standard storage,
but developed assuming no tank losses and
an infinite heat exchanger
Inclusion of Tank Losses
Let Q tan k be the rate of energy loss from the
tank
1
Let the tank be at a guessed temperature

of Tt1
.
The tank loses energy to the surrounding at
Ta' , that may differ from the ambient

temperature
Q tan k  (UA )tan k ( Tt1  Ta' )

(UA )tan k is the tank overall heat loss


coefficient-surface area product, just similar
to (UA )h for a dwelling, used in calculating
the space heating load
The tank loss over the month is
Qtan k  (UA )tan k ( Tt1  Ta' )t

Note, it is Qtan k and not Q tan k

t is the number of seconds in the month


Now, the siolar energy system needs to
meet the load on the system and the tank
loss. Thus the load fraction fTL inclusive of
the tank losses is,
QS  Qtan k
fTL 
L  Qtan k

By definition the solar load fraction is


defined as the fraction of the load on the
system, met by the solar energy system.
Hence,
QS  Q  Qtan k
f   fTL  1  tan k 
L  L  L

The limiting tank losses can be estimated


a) a low estimate: assume that the tank is at
Tmin
b) An upper bound shall be to assume that
the tank is at the average collector inlet
temperature Ti

Ti can be estimated from the  relation,


where
fTL
 
Y
New tank temperature is
Ti  Tmin
k 
2
Ttan
2

Repeat the process until


|(Tt1
 Tt )| 0.1 C , say
2 0

In general ,
|(Tt n  Tt n1 )| 0.10 C
Finite Heat Excjanger
The effect of the heat exchanger is to
increase the Tmin
The collector is now required to supply
energy at or above,
Tmin
1
 Tmin  T 1

Where T 1 is the first guess.


Follow the  , f – Chart procedure,
calculating
max with

X C ,min  
 1
  
I c,min  FRU L Tmin  T a FR  
IT ,n  rt n Rn K T H o 
 

If f is the solar load fraction obtained thus,


Qs /  L fL /  L
T  2

 L Cmin  L Cmin
 L is the number of seconds that the load
exists on the system in the month.
Note that
 L may differ from 24x3600x30,
the total number of seconds in a month in
general.
Repeat the process until,
| T 2  T 1 | 0.10 C , say
In a simple way to remember the
methodology to include the tank losses and a
finite heat exchanger is to
1) Treat tank loss as an additional load on
the system
2) Treat the effect of heat exchanger is to
enhance the minimum temperature
above which energy delivery is desired
An Example:
0
1. At a location of latitude 40 N, a
process heating system employing
flat plate collectors, facing south with
0 2
a slope of 40 ,of area 50 m has been
installed. The collector parameters are
2 0
FRUL = 2.63 W/m C and
FR(τα)n=o.0.72. The system is
required to supply energy at a
0
minimum temperature of 60 C at a
rate of 12 kW for 12 hrs a day.
Assume that the ground reflectance to
be 0.2. Calculate the following for the
month of January if
H  8.6MJ /( m  day ), Ta  5 C
2 0

a) What is the critical radiation level?


b) What is the non-dimensional critical
radiation level?
c) What is the monthly average daily
utilizability?
d) What is the solar load fraction met by
the system?

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