TY - JOUR
T1 - Step towards sustainability
T2 - Techno-economic optimization of a parabolic trough solar collector using multi-objective genetic algorithm
AU - Goel, Anubhav
AU - Manik, Gaurav
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/1/1
Y1 - 2023/1/1
N2 - Two parameters can make a technology desirable for industrial usage: high efficiency and low cost. With this aim, in this investigation, the geometric and design parameters of a parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC) have been examined and optimized with the dual goal of maximizing efficiency and minimizing the levelized cost of heat energy (LCHE). It is revealed that shuffling the types of design parameters like heat transfer fluid (HTF), absorber material, and solar selective absorber coating (SSAC) has a considerable impact on thermal performance and LCHE of PTSC. Also, a variation in geometric specifications (collector focal length, dimensions of absorber, collector, glass cover) can have both positive and negative effects on efficiency and LCHE. A multi-objective genetic algorithm (MGA) is utilized to find the set of design parameters and geometric specifications for PTSC that maximizes efficiency and minimizes LCHE. Combinatorial optimization is performed at two different temperatures to identify the optimal configuration of design parameters from a pool of 144 possible combinations comprising 6 SSACs, 6 HTFs, and 4 absorber materials. It was found that using the identified set of design parameters, thermal efficiency can increase by 10 % at 100 °C and 6 % at 250 °C, with corresponding LCHE reduction of 13 % at 100 °C and 8.5 % at 250 °C. Additionally, an optimal set of geometric specifications is searched by varying the dimensions of PTSC. An improvement of ≥ 4 % in efficiency and a decline of ≥ 5 % in LCHE is noted with optimized geometric dimensions of PTSC.
AB - Two parameters can make a technology desirable for industrial usage: high efficiency and low cost. With this aim, in this investigation, the geometric and design parameters of a parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC) have been examined and optimized with the dual goal of maximizing efficiency and minimizing the levelized cost of heat energy (LCHE). It is revealed that shuffling the types of design parameters like heat transfer fluid (HTF), absorber material, and solar selective absorber coating (SSAC) has a considerable impact on thermal performance and LCHE of PTSC. Also, a variation in geometric specifications (collector focal length, dimensions of absorber, collector, glass cover) can have both positive and negative effects on efficiency and LCHE. A multi-objective genetic algorithm (MGA) is utilized to find the set of design parameters and geometric specifications for PTSC that maximizes efficiency and minimizes LCHE. Combinatorial optimization is performed at two different temperatures to identify the optimal configuration of design parameters from a pool of 144 possible combinations comprising 6 SSACs, 6 HTFs, and 4 absorber materials. It was found that using the identified set of design parameters, thermal efficiency can increase by 10 % at 100 °C and 6 % at 250 °C, with corresponding LCHE reduction of 13 % at 100 °C and 8.5 % at 250 °C. Additionally, an optimal set of geometric specifications is searched by varying the dimensions of PTSC. An improvement of ≥ 4 % in efficiency and a decline of ≥ 5 % in LCHE is noted with optimized geometric dimensions of PTSC.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85143136967&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tsep.2022.101539
DO - 10.1016/j.tsep.2022.101539
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85143136967
SN - 2451-9049
VL - 37
JO - Thermal Science and Engineering Progress
JF - Thermal Science and Engineering Progress
M1 - 101539
ER -