Document Type
Theses, Ph.D
Disciplines
2. ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, 2.2 ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONIC, INFORMATION ENGINEERING
Abstract
In order to achieve the global carbon emission target, the high fraction of locally available renewable energy sources will become necessary to meet energy demand. Solar energy is one of the most important renewable sources locally available for use in space heating, cooling, hot water supply and power production. Building integrated solar thermal systems (BISTS) can be a potential solution towards the enhanced energy efficiency and reduced operational cost in built environment. The current research aimed at developing an active solar air heating collector for building integration. This system consisted of several asymmetric compound parabolic concentrating collectors with inverted transpired absorber stacked on the top of each other capable of receiving direct solar insolation for 8 hours/day during the summer season. An optical analysis was carried out with the assistance of a 3D ray tracing technique in order to investigate the optical performance through a parametric analysis, and thus to decide the design to be used as a prototype. It has dimensions of 0.42 m x 0.40 m x 1.25 m and concentration ration 2.28, able to absorb up to 67% of direct solar radiation in the period of operation. Subsequently, the prototype was experimentally tested by using five different air flow rates (22 – 60 kg/h) in open loop configuration. Experimental results show that, on clear days and in periods of high solar insolation (greater than 800 W/m2 ), the airflow temperature rise varied between n 12 oC (at the highest airflow rate) and 27 oC (at the smallest rate), characterising thus thermal efficiencies between 52 – 62%. After experimental characterisation, a thermal modelling based on energy balance was undertaken with the objective of simulating the collector’s thermal performance for further control of multiple units connected altogether.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21427/91b8-kt52
Recommended Citation
Guerreiro, Fernando, "Building Integration of a Solar Air Heating System" (2024). Doctoral. 149.
https://arrow.tudublin.ie/engdoc/149
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Publication Details
A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Technological University Dublin, 2024.
doi:10.21427/91b8-kt52