A mathematical model for computing the thermal performance of an air heater with a truncated compound parabolic concentrator having a flat one-sided absorber is presented. A computer code that employs an iterative solution procedure is constructed to solve the governing energy equations and to estimate the performance parameters of the collector. The effects of the air mass flow rate, the wind ...

A hybrid solar panel has been invented to integrate photovoltaic (PV) cells onto a substrate through a functionally graded material (FGM) with water tubes cast inside, through which water serves as both heat sink and solar heat collector. Therefore, the efficiency of PV cells can be improved by temperature control while the heat conduction to the substrate can be minimized for saving of air con...

In this paper solar assisted heating and absorption cooling system and domestic hot water needs for a hotel having fifty rooms in Antalya have been investigated. First of all, solar radiation and meteorological data for Antalya and heating and cooling loads of the hotel building are given. For the heating cycle, active systems using liquid as the working fluid; and for the cooling cycle, solar-...

Photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) technology refers to the integration of a photovoltaic (PV) and a conventional solar thermal collector, representing the deep exploitation and utilization of solar energy. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of a solar PVT cogeneration system based on specific building energy demand using theoretical modeling and experimental study. Through calculation and simu...

Solar-driven organic Rankine cycle (ORC) has been drawing increasing attention due to its high potential in energy conversion efficiency. The two core components of thermal application systems of solar energy are solar collectors and thermal energy storage systems, and many studies have been published. ORC also has attracted much attention in recent years due to its potential in reducing consum...

This paper presents an optimization of a solar chimney power plant with an inclined collector roof using genetic algorithms. Five design parameters that affect the system performance are the collector radius, collector inlet height, collector outlet height, chimney height and diameter. A multi-objective design to simultaneously optimize three conflicting objectives including system efficiency, ...