Journal article
An improved dynamic test method for solar collectors
Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark1
Chinese Academy of Sciences2
Section for Building Physics and Services, Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark3
Department of Informatics and Mathematical Modeling, Technical University of Denmark4
Mathematical Statistics, Department of Informatics and Mathematical Modeling, Technical University of Denmark5
A comprehensive improvement of the mathematical model for the so called transfer function method is presented in this study. This improved transfer function method can estimate the traditional solar collector parameters such as zero loss coefficient and heat loss coefficient. Two new collector parameters t and mfCf are obtained. t is a time scale parameter which can indicate the heat transfer ability of the solar collector. mfCf can be used to calculate the fluid volume content in the solar collector or to validate the regression process by comparing it to the physical fluid volume content if known.
Experiments were carried out under dynamic test conditions and then test data were processed using multi-linear regression method to get collector parameters with statistic analysis. A comparison of the collector parameters obtained from the improved transfer function (ITF) method and the quasi-dynamic test (QDT) method is carried out.
The results show that the improved transfer function method can accurately obtain reasonable collector parameters. The influence of different averaging time intervals is investigated. Based on the investigation it is recommended to use on line calculation if applicable for the second-order differential term with 6–9min as the best averaging time interval.
The measured and predicted collector power output of the solar collector are compared during a test of 13days continuously both for the ITF method and the QDT method. The maximum and averaging error is 53.87W/m2 and 5.22W/m2 respectively of the ITF method while 64.13W/m2 and 6.22W/m2 of the QDT method.
Scatter and relative error distribution of the measured power output versus the predicted power output is also plotted for the two methods. No matter in either error analysis or scatter distribution, the ITF method is more accurate than the QDT method in predicting the power output of a solar collector.In conclusion, all the results show that the improved transfer function method can accurately and robustly estimate solar collector parameters and predict solar collector thermal performance under dynamic test conditions.
Language: | English |
---|---|
Year: | 2012 |
Pages: | 1838-1848 |
ISSN: | 14711257 and 0038092x |
Types: | Journal article |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.solener.2012.03.002 |
ORCIDs: | Kong, Weiqiang , Fan, Jianhua , Bacher, Peder , Perers, Bengt and Furbo, Simon |