Advances in Energy Research

Techno-Press (테크노프레스)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Dust accumulation effect on solar thermal energy systems performance

  • Alsaad, Mohammad A. (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, The University of Applied Sciences)
  • Received : 2015.06.18
  • Accepted : 2015.08.19
  • Published : 2015.09.25
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

This research investigates the effect of natural dust accumulation on the glass cover of solar thermal energy conversion systems. Four similar, locally manufactured, flat plate solar collectors are used. All collectors are South oriented with tilt angle of $40^{\circ}$. The glass cover of one collector is kept clean of dust during the experimental period while the second collector is cleaned at the beginning of each month. The third collector is cleaned every two months while the fourth collector is kept un-cleaned throughout the experimental period of four months. The calculated parameters are the solar heat gain rates and the corresponding values of the thermal efficiency. The result of the present work indicates that the percentage of fractional reduction of the useful heat gain rate due to dust accumulation during a period of one and two months is 11.4% and 17.0%, respectively. The percentage decrease of thermal efficiency during the same duration periods is 4.0% and 6.1%, respectively. The percentage of fractional reduction of the useful heat gain rate due to dust accumulation during a period of three and four months is 27.8% and 31.9%, respectively. The percentage decrease of monthly thermal efficiency during the same duration period is 10.2% and 11.3%, respectively.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : Applied Science Private University

References

  1. Alsaad, M.A. (1999), "Transmitted solar Radiation through Jordanian windows of various orientations", World Renewable Energy Congress, Kuala Lampur , September.
  2. Alsaad, M.A., Jubran, B.A. and Abu-Faris, N.A. (1994), "Development and testing of concrete solar collectors", Int. Solar Energy, 16, 27-40. https://doi.org/10.1080/01425919408914264
  3. Duffie, J. and Beckman, W. (2006), Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes, Wiley, New York, New York, USA.
  4. Hai, J., Lin, L. and Ke, S. (2011), "Experimental investigation of the impact of air born dust deposition on the performance of solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant", Atmosph. Environ., 45, 4299-4304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.04.084
  5. Hegazy, A. (2001), "Effect of dust accumulation on solar transmission through glass cover of flat-plate collectors", Renew. Energy, 22(4), 525-740. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0960-1481(00)00093-8
  6. Hrayshat, E. and Al-Soud, M. (2004). "Solar energy in Jordan: current state and prospects", Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., 2,193-200.
  7. Jubran, B.A., Alsaad, M.A. and Abu-Faris, N.A. (1994), "Computational evaluation of solar energy systems using concrete solar collectors", Energy Conver. Manage., 35(12) 1143-1145.
  8. Mastekbayera, G.A. and Kumar, S. (2000), "Effect of dust on the transmittance of a 0.2 mm thick low density polyethylene glazing in a tropical climate", Solar Energy, 68(2), 135-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-092X(99)00069-9
  9. Sulaiman, S.A., Hussain, H.H., Leh, N.S.H.N. and Razali, M.S. (2011), "Effect of dust on the performance of PV panels", World Acad. Sci. Eng. Tech., 58, 588-593.