Two-Dimensional Numerical Simulation of an Evacuated Tube Solar Collector by Finite Element Method

In this paper, a U-shaped vacuum tube solar collector is numerically investigated using a scripted finite element model builder, Flex PDE software. Fluid flow and temperature distribution are obtained by solving the governing equations (including continuity, momentum, energy and radiation equation). In the two-dimensional cylindrical coordinates (r, z) for simulating the radiative heat transfer, the discrete coordinate method (DO) is utilized. The thermophysical properties of the flow is considered constant. In the present study, two models of evacuated tube solar collectors with one U-type and two U-type are considered and analyzed. The results of the simulation show an increase in collector efficiency due to the increase in the number of U-type tube in the evacuated tube solar collectors.

Keywords:

Solar Energy , Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors , Natural Convection , Radiation