Establishment, Validation, and Application of a Comprehensive Thermal Hydraulic Model for a Parabolic Trough Solar Field

To better understand the thermal hydraulic characteristics of the parabolic trough solar field (PTSF), a comprehensive thermal hydraulic model (CTHM) based on a pilot plant is developed in this paper. All of the main components and thermal and hydraulic transients are considered in the CTHM, and the...

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Main Authors: Linrui Ma, Zhifeng Wang, Dongqiang Lei, Li Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-08-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/16/3161
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author Linrui Ma
Zhifeng Wang
Dongqiang Lei
Li Xu
author_facet Linrui Ma
Zhifeng Wang
Dongqiang Lei
Li Xu
author_sort Linrui Ma
collection DOAJ
description To better understand the thermal hydraulic characteristics of the parabolic trough solar field (PTSF), a comprehensive thermal hydraulic model (CTHM) based on a pilot plant is developed in this paper. All of the main components and thermal and hydraulic transients are considered in the CTHM, and the input parameters of the model are no longer dependent on the total flow rate. In this paper, we solve the CTHM by a novel numerical approach based on graph theory and the Newton-Raphson method, and then examine it by two tests conducted based on a pilot plant. Comparing the flow rate, temperature, and pressure drop results show good agreement and further validate the availability and accuracy of the CTHM under hydraulic and thermal disturbance. Besides, two applications of the CTHM are implemented for presenting its potential function. In the first application, two cases are simulated to reveal how the thermal effects influence the PTSF behavior, and in the second application, the CHTF is used for the study of control strategies under uniform and nonuniform solar irradiance. The results verify the feasibility of controlling the PTSF outlet temperature through the header and loop valves.
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spelling doaj.art-7b1cef6b11b94dbe8add97df80341f992022-12-22T03:18:50ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732019-08-011216316110.3390/en12163161en12163161Establishment, Validation, and Application of a Comprehensive Thermal Hydraulic Model for a Parabolic Trough Solar FieldLinrui Ma0Zhifeng Wang1Dongqiang Lei2Li Xu3Key Laboratory of Solar Thermal Energy and Photovoltaic System, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaKey Laboratory of Solar Thermal Energy and Photovoltaic System, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaKey Laboratory of Solar Thermal Energy and Photovoltaic System, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaKey Laboratory of Solar Thermal Energy and Photovoltaic System, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaTo better understand the thermal hydraulic characteristics of the parabolic trough solar field (PTSF), a comprehensive thermal hydraulic model (CTHM) based on a pilot plant is developed in this paper. All of the main components and thermal and hydraulic transients are considered in the CTHM, and the input parameters of the model are no longer dependent on the total flow rate. In this paper, we solve the CTHM by a novel numerical approach based on graph theory and the Newton-Raphson method, and then examine it by two tests conducted based on a pilot plant. Comparing the flow rate, temperature, and pressure drop results show good agreement and further validate the availability and accuracy of the CTHM under hydraulic and thermal disturbance. Besides, two applications of the CTHM are implemented for presenting its potential function. In the first application, two cases are simulated to reveal how the thermal effects influence the PTSF behavior, and in the second application, the CHTF is used for the study of control strategies under uniform and nonuniform solar irradiance. The results verify the feasibility of controlling the PTSF outlet temperature through the header and loop valves.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/16/3161parabolic trough solar fieldthermal and hydraulic modelvalidationcontrol
spellingShingle Linrui Ma
Zhifeng Wang
Dongqiang Lei
Li Xu
Establishment, Validation, and Application of a Comprehensive Thermal Hydraulic Model for a Parabolic Trough Solar Field
Energies
parabolic trough solar field
thermal and hydraulic model
validation
control
title Establishment, Validation, and Application of a Comprehensive Thermal Hydraulic Model for a Parabolic Trough Solar Field
title_full Establishment, Validation, and Application of a Comprehensive Thermal Hydraulic Model for a Parabolic Trough Solar Field
title_fullStr Establishment, Validation, and Application of a Comprehensive Thermal Hydraulic Model for a Parabolic Trough Solar Field
title_full_unstemmed Establishment, Validation, and Application of a Comprehensive Thermal Hydraulic Model for a Parabolic Trough Solar Field
title_short Establishment, Validation, and Application of a Comprehensive Thermal Hydraulic Model for a Parabolic Trough Solar Field
title_sort establishment validation and application of a comprehensive thermal hydraulic model for a parabolic trough solar field
topic parabolic trough solar field
thermal and hydraulic model
validation
control
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/16/3161
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AT zhifengwang establishmentvalidationandapplicationofacomprehensivethermalhydraulicmodelforaparabolictroughsolarfield
AT dongqianglei establishmentvalidationandapplicationofacomprehensivethermalhydraulicmodelforaparabolictroughsolarfield
AT lixu establishmentvalidationandapplicationofacomprehensivethermalhydraulicmodelforaparabolictroughsolarfield