Design of Novel Evacuated Glass Solar Collector incorporated with PCM

Date : Jun 2016 - Sep 2017

Potential of solar energy is so vast but the main issue is to harness this energy with an efficient way. Therefore it is most important to harness this source of renewable energy in order to meet the energy demand. The aim of this project with thesis is to design, fabricate and to research a different techniques of solar energy collection using phase change material in order to build an efficient method and to fulfill the energy gap between supply and demand. The design of novel evacuated tube solar collector using PCM for solar energy collection and storage involves the usage of evacuated solar collectors with U-shaped copper pipes in order to get the maximum efficiency with most economic value.Thermal energy storage( TES) used for storing sun’s energy by using different standard and this energy is further used for space heating purposes and other residential necessities. For heating and cooling applications TES is a technically best approach and having a better efficiency. TES systems are used mostly in building and developed methods. Phase change material (PCM) is viable for storing sun’s radiation in solar water heating system and has the advantages of its isothermal performance through the charging and discharging manners and extraordinary energy store density. PCM provide an efficient storage system for space heating when the sun’s energy not available. This prototype involves passing of copper pipe through solar collectors to a tank. The heated water will come from the pipe and stored in a tank. Different thermocouples is adjusted at different position of a tank in order to check the temperature at different position of a tank.The maximum recorded temperature of an outlet water is about 94 degree.Variation in temperature was observed from 9.30 am to 5.30pm due to the variation in sunlight intensity.Making such projects at industrial level not only minimize the energy gap specially for country like Pakistan.