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Research Article

An experimental study of the effect of solar tracking technology on the performance of a single phase open thermosyphon: a case study

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Pages 6049-6063 | Received 21 Jul 2023, Accepted 17 Apr 2024, Published online: 26 Apr 2024
 

ABSTRACT

Recently, an increase in the demand for evacuated tube solar water heaters has been observed in Iraq due to their acceptable thermal efficiency, which reduces the dependence on electrical energy to heat water for domestic uses. The efficiency of the evacuated tube increases with the amount of received solar radiation. Therefore, in the present work, the evacuated tube has been installed at the center of the parabola cylinder to focus more sunlight on its surface. Since the sun has a relative movement concerning the earth, which is variable from one season to another, and during the day from sunrise to sunset, heating water with an evacuated tube solar water heater (ETSWH) has fluctuating temperatures. An effective technique for increasing the efficiency of a solar water heating system is solar tracking technology, which exploits solar radiation continuously during the day. The LDRs were utilized as sensors, and a 12 V linear actuator have been used to guide the position of the modified trough solar water heater (MTSWH). A microcontroller board (Arduino Uno) implements the program code (software part). The MTSWH was experimentally tested, and the results showed that installing a single-phase open thermosyphon evacuated tube at the focus of the parabolic cylinder (MTSWH) increased the thermal efficiency by 16.5%. Moreover, the implementation of solar tracking system led to an increase in the outlet water temperature by 32% and ensured a continuous supply of water throughout the day at high temperatures compared to the conventional trough solar water heater (CTSWH). This study revealed that the MTSWH performance results showed good agreement with previous studies.

Nomenclatures

Abbreviation=

Items

ETSWH=

Evacuated tube solar water heater

MTSWH=

Modified trough solar water heater

CTSWH=

Conventional trough solar water heater

PTC=

Parabolic center solar collector

θ_rim=

Edge angle

GC=

Absorber tube

OTET=

Open thermosyphon evacuated tube

PWM=

Pulse Width Modulation

TD=

Typical deviation

T.E=

Typical error

AAT=

Ambient air temperature

SRI=

Solar radiation intensity

WS=

Wind speed

T=

Temperature

Qu=

Useful energy

m ̇=

Mass flux

Cp=

Heat capacity of the water

LDR=

light-dependent resistor

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Milia H. Majeed

Milia H. Majeed, PhD student, Ural Federal University (UrFU), Russia. Master’s in Electronics and Nanoelectronics Engineering from Ural Federal University (UrFU), Russia, 2021.

Naseer T. Alwan

Naseer T. Alwan obtained his PhD in Renewable Energy Engineering from Ural Federal University, Russia. Currently working at the Northern Technical University, Iraq.

Sajjad A. Salih

Sajjad A. Salih, PhD student, Ural Federal University (UrFU), Russia. Master in mechanical power engineering from Warsaw University of Technology, Poland 2017.

Baseem A. Aljashaami

Baseem A. Aljashaami, PhD student, Ural Federal University (UrFU), Russia. Master in Building Services, Hydro, and Environmental Engineering from Warsaw University of Technology, Poland, 2017.

S. E. Shcheklein

S. E. Shcheklein, Professor, Ural Federal University, Russia; B.N. Yeltsin, Department of Nuclear Power Plants and Renewable Energy. Head of the Department.

Vladimir I. Velkin

Vladimir I. Velkin, professor of the Ural Federal University, Department of nuclear power plants and renewable energy sources, Russia

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