Modeling, simulation and outdoor experimental performance analysis of a solar-assisted process heating system for industrial process heat

Industrial process heating applications in the temperature range of 50 degrees-250 degrees C consumes about 35% of the global fossil fuels, wherein solar thermal is envisaged as an alternative option. Outlet temperatures of both flat-plate collector (FPC) and photovoltaic thermal collector (PVT) are not high enough to serve industrial processes. In this article, a solar assisted process heating (SAPH) system, wherein an FPC integrated in series with a PVT, has been designed to produce low to medium temperature process heat. TRNSYS simulation models have been developed for the isolated FPC and PVT as well as integrated SAPH (PVT-FPC) systems and simulated models have been validated through outdoor experimentation. Results show that SAPH system generates thermal energy as high as 1420 W with a thermal efficiency of 75% and an exergy efficiency of 12.72%. Performance mapping ascertains that SAPH system performs better at lower mass flow rates and under higher radiations. This well-engineered integration offers unique and sustainable solution to meet industrial process heat demand at a minimum fossil fuel usage. Such SAPH system with the compatible numbers of FPCs and PVTs can be implemented to accomplish low to medium temperature process heat requirements. (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The article discusses the design of a solar assisted process heating (SAPH) system integrating flat-plate collector (FPC) and photovoltaic thermal collector (PVT) for low to medium temperature process heat. The SAPH system generates thermal energy as high as 1420 W with a thermal efficiency of 75% and an exergy efficiency of 12.72%, performing better at lower mass flow rates and under higher radiations.