Research Article Open Access

EFFECT OF FIN SPACING ON FORCED CONVECTION HEAT TRANSFER THROUGH THE PARABOLIC DISH SOLAR RECEIVER

Abstract

In surface absorption concentrated solar receiver, fins are used to transfer heat from the absorber plate inner surface to heat transfer medium. Thin, rectangular fins are the most commonly used profile due to its high efficiency. The addition of more fins not only increases the heat transfer rate, but also increases the flow resistance. Further, there will be a reduction of convective heat transfer coefficient due to more number of fins. The heat transfer coefficient is higher with forced circulation of fluid when compared to natural laminar convection with optimum fins. The design parameters considered here for the solar receiver are fin dimensions, fin spacing and fluid mass flow rate with fin optimization study carried out for different mass flow rates applicable for concentrated solar collectors. The fin spacing decreases with the increase in mass flow rate of the working fluid. For the practical range of mass flow rates (0.1 – 0.5 kg/s) employed in parabolic dish concentrated community cooking solar receiver are to be between 12.5 and 22.5 mm.

RAMALINGAM SENTHIL MUKUND GUPTA AND CHINMAYA RATH

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