US2015285534A1PendingUtilityA1
Solar collector with optimal profile for energy distribution on a tubular receiver
Assignee: UNIV KING FAHD PET & MINERALSPriority: Apr 2, 2014Filed: Apr 2, 2014Published: Oct 8, 2015
Est. expiryApr 2, 2034(~7.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
F24J 2/12F24J 2002/1028Y10T29/49355F24S 23/70F24S 20/20F24S 2023/833Y02E10/40
47
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Claims
Abstract
The solar collector with optimal profile for energy distribution on a tubular receiver collects and distributes solar energy. Solar energy received from the sun can be modified by either being re-directed (reflection) or being redistributed. In the present invention energy is reflected and redistributed in a manner that yields a required energy variation over a surface. The receiver is a cylinder of known length and diameter. Longitudinal distribution of energy is specified by a user defined function. Circumferential distribution is assumed to be constant. Energy distribution is required to vary along the z axis of the receiver but remain constant in the circumferential direction. An axi-symmetric approach is used in which only one plane of the receiver in r and Z plane is considered. A geometric solution determines a reflecting surface that gives a required energy distribution along the z-axis. A complete reflector is designed by expanding the axi-symmetric behavior.
Claims
exact text as granted — not AI-modifiedWe claim:
1 . A solar collector with optimal profile for energy distribution on a tubular receiver, comprising:
a reflector formed by a single, continuous parametric curve, the reflector having only one smooth reflecting surface; a receiver through which heat carrying fluid circulates; and wherein the receiver comprises at least one tube disposed along a focal axis defined by an aperture of the reflector to receive reflected solar energy directed by the reflector along the focal axis.
2 . The solar collector with optimal profile for energy distribution on a tubular receiver according to claim 1 , wherein the single, continuous parametric curve of the reflector has a contour that conforms to a calculated solution using a system of equations characterized by the relations,
r
ab
B
x
=
Br
2
sin
(
θ
)
cos
(
θ
)
θ
x
+
Br
r
x
sin
2
(
θ
)
,
and
cot
(
θ
/
2
)
=
sin
(
θ
)
+
r
cos
(
θ
)
θ
r
x
r
-
cos
(
θ
)
+
r
sin
(
θ
)
θ
r
,
where B is the solar flux falling on the aperture of the reflector, r ab is the outer radius of a tubular receiver having length L, B x is a specific profile of heat flux required over the surface of the tubular receiver, dx is a small length portion of the tubular receiver, r is the length of reflected solar ray, which falls on the tubular receiver at a distance x along the tubular receiver, becoming r+dr at a length of x+dx.
3 . The solar collector with optimal profile for energy distribution on a tubular receiver according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular receiver is substantially cylindrical in shape.
4 . The solar collector with optimal profile for energy distribution on a tubular receiver according to claim 1 , wherein the solar collector has an opening at its apex.
5 . The solar collector with optimal profile for energy distribution on a tubular receiver according to claim 1 , wherein the heat carrying fluid is methane undergoing a steam methane reforming (SMR) reaction.
6 . The solar collector with optimal profile for energy distribution on a tubular receiver according to claim 1 , wherein a horizontal lineal distance from an apex of the solar collector to an outer edge of the solar collector is approximately 6.7 meters to facilitate a quadratic energy distribution along the tubular receiver.
7 . The solar collector with optimal profile for energy distribution on a tubular receiver according to claim 1 , wherein a horizontal lineal distance from an apex of the solar collector to an outer edge of the solar collector is approximately 0.043 meters to facilitate a constant energy distribution along the tubular receiver.
8 . A method for manufacturing a solar collector, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) accumulating polynomial energy distribution requirement inputs, local solar flux density input, initial radius of the reflecting surface input, and length of the reactor input; (b) feeding the inputs of step (a) to a computer executing a procedure that calculates a solution of a system of equations characterized by the relations,
r
ab
B
x
=
Br
2
sin
(
θ
)
cos
(
θ
)
θ
x
+
Br
r
x
sin
2
(
θ
)
,
and
sin
(
θ
)
+
r
cos
(
θ
)
θ
r
x
r
-
cos
(
θ
)
+
r
sin
(
θ
)
θ
r
=
cot
(
θ
/
2
)
,
where B is the solar flux falling on the aperture of the reflector, r ab is the outer radius of a tubular receiver having length L, B x is a specific profile of heat flux required over the surface of the tubular receiver, dx is a small length portion of the tubular receiver, r is the length of reflected solar ray, which falls on the tubular receiver at a distance x along the tubular receiver, becoming r+dr at a length of x+dx wherein said system of equations produces a set of reflecting surface profile data points; and
(c) feeding the set of reflecting surface profile data points to a computer aided numerically controlled manufacturing system, said computer aided numerically controlled manufacturing system producing a desired reflecting surface based on said inputs of step (a).
9 . The solar collector manufacturing method according to claim 8 , further comprising the step of determining B x according to an optimal heat flux profile for a steam methane reforming (SMR) reaction wherein the SMR reaction is approximated by a third order polynomial characterized by the relation,
B x =0.1281 x 3 −0.871 x 2 +2.806 x+ 49.7.
10 . The solar collector manufacturing method according to claim 9 , wherein the input step (a) further comprises:
inputting radius of tubular absorber, r ab =0.00865 m; inputting length of tubular absorber, L=12 m; inputting initial radius r i =0.04 m; and inputting solar flux, B=1 KW/m 2 .Join the waitlist — get patent alerts
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