Performance Evaluation of a Prototype Solar Collector Using Convex Lenses for Varying Mass Flow Rate of the Heat Transfer Fluid

International Journal of Mechanical Engineering

© 2015 by SSRG - IJME Journal

Volume 2 Issue 7

Year of Publication : 2015

Authors : Pramod Kumar Trivedi, Jitendra Jayant, Kamal Kant Vashistha, Dr. A. C. Tiwari

10.14445/23488360/IJME-V2I7P108

How to Cite?

Pramod Kumar Trivedi, Jitendra Jayant, Kamal Kant Vashistha, Dr. A. C. Tiwari, "Performance Evaluation of a Prototype Solar Collector Using Convex Lenses for Varying Mass Flow Rate of the Heat Transfer Fluid," SSRG International Journal of Mechanical Engineering, vol. 2,  no. 7, pp. 40-43, 2015. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488360/IJME-V2I7P108

Abstract:

As conventional sources of energy (especially fossil fuels) continue to deplete and pose, more and more environmental challenges day by day, there is a need to shift towards non-conventional sources of energy. Solar energy being the original form of energy, abundantly available and free from environmental hazards, attracts our attention. However, being dilute form of energy, harnessing solar energy employs the need of either solar photo-voltaic or concentrating solar power (CSP) technology. Of the two technologies, CSP is more cost efficient and suitable for a developing economy like India. In the present research paper, experimental evaluation of the performance of a prototype solar collector using convex lenses for CSP is presented. The performance was analysed for varying mass flow rate of the working fluid for five days over a span of two seasons. The experimental evaluation showed that the prototype solar collector’s efficiency was more or less constant at 68.5% for all the values of mass flow rate, with maximum efficiency of 68.69% for a mass flow rate of 0.23 kg/h.

Keywords:

solar energy, concentrating solar power, convex lens, solar collector, solar collector’s performance

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