Experiment of a novel collector design with concentrators and heat storage cores

Combining the compound parabolic concentrator, phase change heat storage cores and vacuum tube solar air collector, a novel solar collector with both heat storage function and concentrating effect was proposed in this paper. Theoretical analysis and experimental investigation were used to illustrate the heat transfer principles and thermal performance of the novel collector. The results indicate that this type of collector not only increased the heat-collecting temperature and efficiency compared to the general solar collector, but also extended the heating time: the maximum output temperature could be improved by 4.5 degrees C (110.8 degrees C), maximum transient efficiency could be increased by 12.09 % (73.09 %) and heating time could be extended by approximately 3 h during the day. This study can provide a reference for the future research of multi-technology integrated collectors.

Automated summary

A novel solar collector with both heat storage function and concentrating effect was proposed in this study, which combines the compound parabolic concentrator, phase change heat storage cores, and vacuum tube solar air collector. The heat transfer principles and thermal performance of the collector were illustrated through theoretical analysis and experimental investigation. The results showed that the collector not only increased the heat-collecting temperature and efficiency but also extended the heating time, with improvements in maximum output temperature, maximum transient efficiency, and heating time. This study can serve as a reference for future research on multi-technology integrated collectors.