Spacing Analysis of an Inclined Solar Collector Field

Authors

S. B. Sadineni, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Robert F. Boehm, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Rick A. Hurt, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

8-2008

Publication Title

ASME 2008 2nd International Conference on Energy Sustainability collocated with the Heat Transfer, Fluids Engineering, and 3rd Energy Nanotechnology Conferences

Publisher

ASME

Volume

2

First page number:

417

Last page number:

422

Abstract

Spacing between the adjacent collectors in a solar field is an important parameter which effects the shading and hence the energy conversion from collectors. Land value has an important bearing on the spacing between the collectors. A computer code has been developed to predict the change in incident energy on the collectors for various spacing distances between them. The code couples general shading models with the local weather data (TMY2). This can be used to calculate shadow area on the collectors from their adjacent collectors for different times of the day for various spacing distances. Variation of shadow area of the collectors for various spacing distances is presented for various time periods. It has been observed that near sunrise and sunset the percent shading area of a system is generally higher, but its influence on the overall energy collection is relatively less due to the decreased solar insolation available during those times of the day. The variation of annual energy received for various spacing distances is presented. Results are given for locations in the Southwestern region of the US including Las Vegas, Phoenix and Albuquerque. Economic implications of these results are discussed.

Keywords

Bearings; Computers; Energy conversion; Shades and shadows; Solar collectors; Solar energy; Solar power plants – Design and construction; Southwest; New

Disciplines

Computer-Aided Engineering and Design | Energy Systems | Mechanical Engineering | Oil, Gas, and Energy | Sustainability

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher policy does not allow archiving the final published version. If a post-print (author's peer-reviewed manuscript) is allowed and available, or publisher policy changes, the item will be deposited.

Repository Citation

Sadineni, S. B., Boehm, R. F., Hurt, R. A. (2008). Spacing Analysis of an Inclined Solar Collector Field. ASME 2008 2nd International Conference on Energy Sustainability collocated with the Heat Transfer, Fluids Engineering, and 3rd Energy Nanotechnology Conferences, 2 417-422. ASME.