We studied the reduction of natural convection heat loss from a solar thermal collector by placing a high-porosity porous medium above the collector plate in a solar thermal collector system. It is known that natural convection can be diminished in a porous medium. In order to use a porous medium in a solar thermal collector, it is necessary to minimize the shading effect of solar radiation caused by the porous medium. In this work, we used a series of offset wire screens made of fine nylon fishing lines of 0.05 mm in diameter with 2-mm pitch and a porosity of 0.999. The experimental apparatus consisted of a copper 300 mm × 300 mm collector plate with a selective absorption film on the surface. We measured the inlet solar radiation, the absorbed solar radiation on the collector plate and the collected heat to cooling water under actual sun radiation, and obtained the reduction rate of the convection heat loss from the collector plate and the shading effect. We changed the condition of the porous medium, the temperature of the collector plate, and the inclined angle of the collector plate. Experimental results of the Nusselt number of natural convection in the high-porosity porous medium agreed with the equation proposed by Gupta et al. [10]. The effect of the inclined angle on the Nusselt number was small. The net reduction rate of natural convection heat loss was 7% by placing the high-porosity porous medium above the collector plate when the temperature of the collector plate was 100°C.
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ASME 2013 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
November 15–21, 2013
San Diego, California, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- ASME
ISBN:
978-0-7918-5635-2
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Study to Reduce Heat Loss From Solar Thermal Collector by Diminishing Natural Convection With High-Porosity Porous Medium
Shigeki Hirasawa,
Shigeki Hirasawa
Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
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Ryohei Tsubota,
Ryohei Tsubota
Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
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Tsuyoshi Kawanami,
Tsuyoshi Kawanami
Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
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Katsuaki Shirai
Katsuaki Shirai
Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
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Shigeki Hirasawa
Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
Ryohei Tsubota
Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
Tsuyoshi Kawanami
Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
Katsuaki Shirai
Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
Paper No:
IMECE2013-62150, V08BT09A034; 8 pages
Published Online:
April 2, 2014
Citation
Hirasawa, S, Tsubota, R, Kawanami, T, & Shirai, K. "Study to Reduce Heat Loss From Solar Thermal Collector by Diminishing Natural Convection With High-Porosity Porous Medium." Proceedings of the ASME 2013 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Volume 8B: Heat Transfer and Thermal Engineering. San Diego, California, USA. November 15–21, 2013. V08BT09A034. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2013-62150
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