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InvestigationofEffectofStratificationonthe
ThermalPerformanceofPackedBedSolar
AirHeater
RajeshMaithani1,A.K.Patil2,J.S.Saini3
AssistantProfessor,DepartmentofMechanicalEngineering,DITDehradun(U.A.),India
1,2
AssistantProfessor,DepartmentofMechanicalEngineering,DITDehradun(U.A.),India
Professor,DepartmentofMechanicalEngineering,DITDehradun(U.A.),India
Abstract
Use of rockbeds with bed elements having geometrical
shapesandsizestoresultintemperaturestratificationforthe
improvement of performance of solar air heater has been
proposed by several investigators. However, this enhanced
efficiencyisaccompaniedbysubstantialincreaseinpressure
loss,sothesolarenergystoragesystemshouldbeoptimized
in such a way that there is maximum thermal gain
accompanied by minimum possible pressure losses. A
computational analysis of temperature distribution of the
bedelementsofthestoragesystemasafunctionoftimeand
locationhasbeendetermined.Theresultingstratificationasa
function of sphericity (), void fraction () and equivalent
diameter(De)ofthebedelementsandoperatingparameters
namely temperature rise parameter (T/I) and insolation (I)
has been determined. Optimum values of bed parameters
namely sphericity (), void fraction () and equivalent
diameter (De) as a function of temperature rise parameter
andinsolationhavebeenestimatedonthebasisofMaximum
effective efficiency (e) of the solar air heater. These values
can be used by a designer to select the optimum values of
bedparameters.
Keywords
Equivalent Diameter; Sphericity; Stratification; Temperature Rise
Parameter;VoidFraction
Introduction
Solar air heating systems which utilize rockbeds for
energy storage, are quite common. Harmeet Singh
(2010) reviewed the packed bed solar energy storage
systems. The overall performance of such systems is
influenced significantly by the temperature
distributionintherockbedenergystorageunitwhich
is strongly affected by the system parameters i.e.
sphericity,voidfractionandequivalentdiameterofthe
bed.DuffieandBeckman(1991)describedthatthewell
designed packed bed having several characteristics
which are desirable for solar energy application such
267
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IA
100
(1)
where,Quisusefulenergygaininthecollector(W),P
ispressuredropacrossthebed, aismassflowrate,I
is the insolation (W/m2), Ac is the collector area (m2)
andCistheconversionfactorthatrepresentstheratio
of mechanical energy required for pump work to the
amount of thermal energy that will be required to
produce that work (C=0.2), such that the quantity P
ma/C is the equivalent thermal energy to produce the
requiredpumpingenergy.
In this work, the performance of a solar collector
sensible heat storage system composed of large sized
element has been predicted. Thermal and effective
efficiency has been determined as function of system
andoperatingparameters.Theeffectofparameterson
thestratificationandthethermalperformanceofsolar
collectorhavebeendiscussed.Theoptimumvaluesof
systemparametershavebeencalculatedthatyieldthe
maximumeffective efficiency forgiven set of valueof
operatingparameters.
FIG.1SCHEMATICOFTHESTORAGESYSTEMUNDERCONSIDERATION
268
FIG.2DIMENSIONS,EQUIVALENTDIAMETER(DE)ANDSPHERICITY()OF
DIFFERENTMATERIALS
InternationalJournalofEnergyScience(IJES)Volume3Issue4,August2013
TABLE1FIXEDPARAMETERSOFBED
Description
Parameter
Volumeofpackedbed,m3
Lengthofpackedbed,m
Numberofbedelement
Initialbedtemperature,C
Dynamicviscosityofair,kg/sm
Densityofair,kg/m3
Inletairtemperaturetobed,C
Ambienttemperature,C
Densityofstoragematerial,kg/m3
(Vb)
(L)
(N)
(Tbi)
(a)
(a)
TaiorTbi
T
s
Value
15
6
60
25
1.865x105
1.1
40
25
1920
Specificheatofair,(J/kgC)
Cpa
1008
Specificheatofstoragematerial,
J/kgC
Collectorarea,m2
(forcollector)
(forcollector)
Cps
835
Ac
FR()e
FRUl
20
0.62
3.38
Timeinterval,min.
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FR
FR U T
(2)
whereFRistheheatremovalfactordefinedasratioof
actual useful energy gain to the maximum possible
energy gain, ()e represents effective transmittance
absorptance product, Ul is overall heat loss coefficient
(W/m2 0C) and Tic is the outlet temperature of the air
fromthepackedbed.
Temperature distribution of bed and air, by means of
MummaandMarvin(1976)forthestoragebedshown
inFig.3.
TABLE2VARIABLEPARAMETERSOFBED
Equivalentdiameter
ofpacking
material,(m)
Sphericityof
materialelement
De(m)
Voidfraction
Ti(C)
Correspondingtothe
materialelementunder
consideration.0.050.2
Correspondingtothe
materialelementunder
consideration.0.51
Correspondingtothe
materialelementunder
consideration.0.300.50
35Cto75C
I(W/m )
T
500,750,1000
10Cto55C
Inlettobed
temperature
Insolation
Temperature
difference
Temperaturerise
parameter
T/I
(Cm2
/W)
FIG.3(a)PACKEDBED
0.05to0.1
TABLE3RANGEOFSYSTEMPARAMETERS
Parameter
Sphericity,
Voidfraction,
Equivalentdiameter,De(cm)
Range
0.5to1
0.3to0.5
5to20
Prediction of Performance
Theperformanceofthesystemwithrespecttothermal
and effective efficiency of the collector has been
predictedonthebasisofdetailedconsiderationofheat
andfluidflowprocessesinthestoragecollectorsystem
shown in Fig. 1. The calculation starts with a set of
values of operating parameters (T/I, and I) and
proceeds with the determination of efficiencies for all
possible sets of geometrical parameters of the storage
bedelement(,andDe).Inthisprocess,thefollowing
setsofwellknownrelationshipareutilized:
FIG.3(b)ELEMENTMOFBED
where
unit)
A L
C
T,
NTU
N
ex p
(3)
whereAbiscrosssectionalareaofpacked
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wherekaisthermalconductivityofair.Thecorrelation
forNusseltnumberisgivenbySingh,Ranjit(2006)
Nu=0.437Re0.753.351.62
exp(29.03log10()2))/De2](5)
Nu
(4)
(6)
T,
T,
T,
T,
(7)
where
N
AL
and
UA
C
andt
(15)
ThusitisseenthatKsdependsonthreedimensionless
numbers,E,MandNTU.
here,Heatexchangereffectiveness(forcollector),
FR A U
C
Mixingnumber.,
Massflowrateofairfrom:
Conductivitynumber,M
No.oftransferunit,
istimeincrement.
(16)
NTU
M
A
C
NTU
(17)
(18)
V
C
(19)
ma=Qu/Cpa(TibTic)
(8)
(11)
IA
whereQuisusefulheatgainbycollector.Theaverage
thermal efficiency of the collector is calculated using
thefollowingrelation:
100(12)
IA
Wherenisacounterdefiningnumberofobservations
duringthecompletechargingtime.
Theeffectiveefficiency, iscalculatedasfollows;
100
(13)
Theexpressionfortheaverageeffectiveefficiencyisas
follows:
Q
e,avg=
270
IA
100
(14)
InternationalJournalofEnergyScience(IJES)Volume3Issue4,August2013
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62
Thermalefficiencyofcollector,th (%)
60
39
37
58
Temperature(C)
35
=0.3
=0.35
=0.4
=0.45
56
33
=0.5
Tbi=25C, Tib=40C,Tamb=25C
I=500W/m2
=0.76,De=0.125m
31
=0.3
54
=0.35
29
=0.4
Chargingtime,tch (hour)
=0.45
=0.5
27
FIG.6VARIATIONOFTHERMALEFFICIENCYOFCOLLECTORWITH
CHARGINGOFBEDATDIFFERENTVOIDFRACTION
Tbi=25C, Tib=40C,Tamb
=25C
I=500W/m2,=0.76, D
e=0.125m
25
0
10
20
30
Bedelement(N)
40
50
60
FIG.4EFFECTOFCHARGINGOFTHEBEDONINLETAIRTEMPERATURETO
THECOLLECTORATDIFFERENTVOIDFRACTIONOFTHEBED
Collectorinlettemperature,Tic (C)
37
=0.3
35
=0.35
=0.4
=0.45
33
=0.5
31
29
27
25
0
Tbi=25C, Tib=40C,Tamb=25C
I=500W/m2,=0.76,De=0.125m
39
Chargingtime,tch (hour)
FIG.5EFFECTOFCHARGINGOFTHEBEDONINLETAIRTEMPERATURETO
THECOLLECTORATDIFFERENTVOIDFRACTIONOFTHEBED
Aspointedoutearlier,anyeffortatimprovingtheheat
transfer performance of the system is usually
accompanied by additional frictional losses; which
becomesessentialtoselectthesystemparameterssuch
thatthesystemyieldsmaximumpossibleenhancement
in thermal performance with minimum possible
enhancement in friction losses. This can be done by
considering these two effects simultaneously through
thermohydraulic performance i.e. the effective
efficiency.
Fig.7showstheplotofaverageeffectiveefficiencyasa
function of void fraction and temperature rise
parameter. An optimum value of void fraction is one
that results in maximum values of effective efficiency
forafixedvalueoftemperatureriseparameters(T/I,
and I). as it can be seen that for a low value of
temperature rise parameter, the lower value of void
fraction results in maximum value of effective
efficiency whereas the higher value of void fraction
yieldsmaximumvalueofefficiencyathighervalueof
temperatureriseparameter.Ithasalsobeenfoundthat
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62.5
1.11
Average
StratificationCoefficient,Ks
Averageeffectiveefficiency,e
62
61.5
61
60.5
=0.3
1.1
1.09
1.08
=0.35
=0.4
60
=0.45
1.07
=0.5
Tbi=25C, Tib=40C,Tamb=25C
I=500W/m2,De=0.125 m, =0.76
Tbi=25C,Tamb=25C
I=500W/m2,=0.76,De=0.125m
59.5
1.06
0.3
59
0.02
2
Temperaturerise
parameter
(T/I),(Cm
0.04
0.06
0.08 /W)
0.35
0.4
0.45
0.5
VoidFraction,
0.1
FIG.7EFFECTOFTEMPERATURERISEPARAMETERONAVERAGE
EFFECTIVEEFFICIENCYFORDIFFERENTVALUESOFVOIDFRACTION
FIG.8VARIATIONOFAVERAGESTRATIFICATIONCOEFFICIENTWITHVOID
FRACTION
63
Stratification Coefficient
272
61
CollectorEfficiency,th(%)
Tbi=25C, Tib=40C,Tamb=25C
I=500W/m2,=0.45,=0.76, De=0.12
5m
62
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
1.005
1.01
1.015
1.02
1.025
1.03
1.035
1.04
1.045
1.05
Stratificationcoefficient,Ks
FIG.9VARIATIONOFCOLLECTOREFFICIENCYWITHSTRATIFICATION
COEFFICIENT
InternationalJournalofEnergyScience(IJES)Volume3Issue4,August2013
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TABLE4VALUESOFOPTIMALSYSTEMPARAMETERSFORI=500W/m2
T/I
(Temperaturerise
parameter)
Optimum
Sphericity
()
Optimum
Voidfraction
()
OptimumEquivalentdiameter
(De),m
0.01
0.35
0.05
0.02
0.35
0.05
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.08
0.09
0.1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0.35
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.45
0.45
0.45
0.45
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
TABLE5VALUESOFOPTIMALSYSTEMPARAMETERSFORI=750W/m2
T/I
(Temperatureriseparameter)
OptimumSphericity
()
OptimumVoidfraction
()
OptimumEquivalentdiameter
(De),m
0.0133
0.02
0.0265
0.0333
0.04
0.0466
0.0533
0.06
0.066
0.0733
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0.35
0.35
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.45
0.45
0.45
0.5
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
TABLE6VALUESOFOPTIMALSYSTEMPARAMETERSFORI=1000W/m2
T/I
(Temperatureriseparameter)
OptimumSphericity
()
OptimumVoid
fraction()
OptimumEquivalent
diameter(De),m
0.015
0.02
0.025
0.03
1
1
1
1
1
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.45
0.45
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
1
1
1
1
1
0.45
0.45
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.035
0.04
0.045
0.05
0.055
0.06
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0.2
1.25
Tbi=25C, Tamb=25C
I=500W/m2
0.15
Equivalentdiameter,De(m)
Sphericity,
0.75
I=750W/m2
I=1000W/m2
0.1
0.05
0.5
I=500W/m2
I=750W/m2
0.25
I=1000W/m2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.2
Temperatureriseparameter,T/I,(Cm2/W)
FIG.10OPTIMUMVALUESOFSPHERICITYFORDIFFERENTVALUESOF
INSOLATION
0.55
VoidFraction,
0.6
0.8
1.2
0.5
Usingtablesorfigs,asmentionedabove,theoptimum
bed parameters are determined as: Sphericity: 1, Void
fraction:0.35,Equivalentdiameter:0.05.
0.45
Conclusion
A solar energy storagecumcollection system using
large size bed element has been analyzed and it has
been found that the effective efficiency is a strong
function of geometrical parameters of the storage bed
and optimum set of these parameters is a function of
operating conditions. The optimum sets have been
determined for different values of design condition,
whichcanbeusedbythedesignertoobtainminimum
possiblefrictionlossesinthestoragesystem.
0.4
I=500W/m2
0.35
I=750W/m2
I=1000W/m2
Tbi=25C, Tamb=25C
0.3
0.01
0.03
0.05
0.07
0.09
REFERENCES
Temperatureriseparameter,T/I,(Cm2/W)
FIG.11OPTIMUMVALUESOFVOIDFRACTIONFORDIFFERENTVALUESOF
INSOLATION
274
0.4
FIG.12OPTIMUMVALUESOFEQUIVALENTDIAMETERFORDIFFERENT
VALUESOFINSOLATION
Tbi=25C, Tamb=25C
0.2
Temperatureriseparameter,T/I,(Cm2/W)
InternationalJournalofEnergyScience(IJES)Volume3Issue4,August2013
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Rajesh Maithani He received Masters
degree with specialization in Thermal
Engineering at Dehradun Institute of
Technology, Dehradun affiliated to
Uttarpradesh
Technical
University,
Lucknow (U.P.) India. Working as
Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical
EngineeringatDehradunInstituteofTechnology,Dehradun
(U.A.)India.Hisresearchinterestisintheareasofrenewable
energytechnologyandInternalCombustionEngines.
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