Simulation and optimisation studies on a solar parabolic collector: an experimental investigation

Abstract

The present paper has focused on parametric optimisation of a solar parabolic collector. This work has been performed in two phases. In the first phase, simulation studies have been done to identify the influential parameters. Based on simulation results, an experimental set-up of the parabolic collector has been fabricated using the materials selected by priority-score method. In the second phase, experiments are conducted according to Taguchi's L₉ orthogonal array. Parabolic collector parameters, namely reflector materials, absorber materials, positions of the absorber tube and angle of the absorber tube, are optimised with the consideration of multi-responses such as temperature, enthalpy, optical efficiency and thermal efficiency. The obtained experimental data are analysed using the desirability functional analysis approach and optimal levels of input parameters have been identified. Analysis of variance also has been performed to know the contribution of influential parameters on the responses.

Keywords:

• solar parabolic collector
• simulation studies
• desirability functional analysis
• priority-score method
• orthogonal arrays and reflector materials

Acknowledgements

Authors would like to acknowledge the engineers of SSI, Coimbatore, and the technical staff of Mechanical Engineering Department, S.V. University, for their help in fabrication of the experimental set-up.