Examination of heat transfer performance of a nonimaging hybrid compound parabolic collector in low latitude and cloudy region

Abstract

This work investigates the characteristics of nonimaging hybrid compound parabolic collector (HCPC) for enhancement of heat transfer to the reactor of solar adsorption refrigeration system (SARS) in low latitude and cloudy region. A HCPC is simulated and developed to heat cylindrical reactor of SARS. The HCPC is used to heat the reactor with solar energy during high insolation while auxiliary heating system is used during low insolation. Simulation results show that the reactor adsorbent (activated carbon) is heated to average temperatures between 70 and 85°C when the solar radiance is between 350 and 450 W/m2. However, the experimental results are observed to be slightly deviated from the simulated results due to environmental factors, such as wind speed, cloud, and dust, which cannot be correctly predicted. It is inferred that HCPC is effective in heating SARS cylindrical reactor to start adsorption refrigeration process in low latitude and cloudy region.