Heat Losses from the Receivers of a Multifaceted Parabolic Solar Energy Collecting System

Heat losses from the receivers of a dish-type solar energy collecting system at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) are numerically investigated. It is assumed that a number of flat square mirrors are arranged on the parabolic dish structure to serve as a reflector. Two different types of receivers, which have conical and dome shapes, are considered for the system, and several modes of heat losses from the receivers are thoroughly studied. Using the Stine and McDonald model convective heat loss from a receiver is estimated. The Net Radiation Method is used to calculate the radiation heat transfer rate by emission from the inside surface of the cavity receiver to the environment. The Monte-Carlo Method is used to predict the radiation heat transfer rate from the reflector to the receiver. Tracing the photons generated, the reflection loss from the receivers can be estimated. The radiative heat flux distribution produced by a multifaceted parabolic concentrator on the focal plane is estimated using the cone optics method. Also, the solar radiation spillage around the aperture is calculated. Based on the results of the analysis, the performances of two different receivers with multifaceted parabolic solar energy collectors are evaluated.