Simulación de reflector de radiación solar en colectores utilizando dinámica de fluidos computacional en Solidworks con la plataforma Flowsimulation

Abstract

The objective of this Curricular Integration Project was to find the appropriate shape and inclination of a solar reflector for low latitudes, such as the city of Riobamba. Using the SolidWorks platform, the arc of the reflector was modified using 3 different angles that varied the shape of the device. Four different reflector tilt angles were used. The simulation of the solar heater with reflector was carried out between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on a day in January to obtain differences in the temperature distribution of the water in the tubes. In the analysis of the solar tubes without reflector, four angles of inclination were used and inserted into another solar collector like the tube joints near the bottom of the tank. Radiation data was taken for any given day in January and the performance of the solar collector was analysed. Better performance of the solar collector was obtained for tubes placed at low angles and with joints close to the tank. As for the reflector results, higher water temperature values were recorded for concave shapes and with inclination angles of 25°. The solar collector performed acceptably in the optical and thermal analysis. Latitude influenced the direction of the rays. At the equator the incidence is different from other areas, so the configuration of the tubes and reflectors had to be changed. The thermosyphon effect increased because the rays at noon are almost perpendicular, and the junctions at the bottom of the tank increased the hydrodynamic pressure. The reflector improved its performance with the mentioned shape due to the direction of the rays in this area. Thermal and optical analysis can be performed neglecting convective losses.