A Novel Application of a Parabolic Trough Collector for Solar Cooking, Thermal Storage and Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting

Zaharaddeen Ali Hussaini; Fergus Crawley; Zhenhua Luo; Christopher Sansom; Peter King; Adriana Stawiarska

doi:10.52825/solarpaces.v1i.686

Authors

Zaharaddeen Ali Hussaini University of Derby https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1172-5886
Fergus Crawley Cranfield University
Zhenhua Luo Cranfield University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0766-6174
Christopher Sansom University of Derby https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1021-3133
Peter King Cranfield University
Adriana Stawiarska Cranfield University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52825/solarpaces.v1i.686

Keywords:

Parabolic Trough Collector, Solar Cooking, Thermoelectric Generator, Energy Harvesting, Concentrated Solar Power

Abstract

The work here involves designing a solar solution for safe cooking and low-power generation intended for application in rural communities. A system was developed that combines Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) technologies. The CSP provides heat for clean cooking, and the excess heat is harvested by the TEG and converted into electrical power. A storage tank was integrated into the system, storing excess energy and serving as the medium for indirect cooking and supplying the heat required by the TEG. The Parabolic Trough Collector, having a resulting average thermal efficiency value of 21%, provided the useful energy to store over 4.25kWh of heat in the tank during the initial testing of the system. The TEG developed has four Peltier modules and attained 23W - over 80% of their rated power and a maximum conversion efficiency of 4.14% at a temperature difference of 220°C between the cold and hot surfaces of the generator. During the experiment, the TEG operation was limited to only four hours before subjecting a no-load test to assess the total energy storable from the system. The initial results from the test carried out here show the potential of the hybrid system in storing energy in the tank for an extended period and simultaneous operation of the TEG. Excess energy stored can be utilised further in providing the heat required for cooking or further electrical power generation.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

J. H. C. Bosmans, L. C. Dammeier, and M. A. J. Huijbregts, “Greenhouse gas footprints of utility-scale photovoltaic facilities at the global scale,” Environ. Res. Lett., vol. 16, no. 9, 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac1df9.

P. Fernández-Yáñez, V. Romero, O. Armas, and G. Cerretti, “Thermal management of thermoelectric generators for waste energy recovery,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 196, p. 117291, Sep. 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.APPLTHERMALENG.2021.117291.

F. Tohidi, S. Ghazanfari Holagh, and A. Chitsaz, “Thermoelectric Generators: A comprehensive review of characteristics and applications,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 201, p. 117793, Jan. 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.APPLTHERMALENG.2021.117793.

P. K. Devan, C. Bibin, S. Gowtham, G. Hariharan, and R. Hariharan, “A comprehensive review on solar cooker with sun tracking system,” Mater. Today Proc., vol. 33, pp. 771–777, Jan. 2020, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATPR.2020.06.124.

H. B. Gao, G. H. Huang, H. J. Li, Z. G. Qu, and Y. J. Zhang, “Development of stove-powered thermoelectric generators: A review,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 96, pp. 297–310, Mar. 2016, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.APPLTHERMALENG.2015.11.032.

European Thermodynamic Limited, “Thermoelectric Generator Modules.” https://www.europeanthermodynamics.com/products/thermoelectric-modules (Accessed 10 September 2022).

Y. Tian and C. Y. Zhao, “A review of solar collectors and thermal energy storage in solar thermal applications,” Appl. Energy, vol. 104, pp. 538–553, 2013, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.11.051.

K. Lentswe, A. Mawire, P. Owusu, and A. Shobo, “A review of parabolic solar cookers with thermal energy storage,” Heliyon, vol. 7, no. 10, p. e08226, Oct. 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.HELIYON.2021.E08226.

M. Noman et al., “An investigation of a solar cooker with parabolic trough concentrator,” Case Stud. Therm. Eng., vol. 14, p. 100436, Sep. 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CSITE.2019.100436.

T. K. Ghosh and M. A. Prelas, “Solar Energy BT - Energy Resources and Systems: Volume 2: Renewable Resources,” T. K. Ghosh and M. A. Prelas, Eds. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2011, pp. 79–156. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1402-1_2.

William B. Stine and Michael Geyer, Power from The Sun. United States: Power from the sun.net, 2001. [Online]. Available: https://www.powerfromthesun.net/book.html

Lamba, M., & Das, S. (2022). Designing of Parabolic Trough Collector using Plane Mirrors. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2178(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2178/1/012015

GlobalHeatTransfer. Shell Thermia B | Globaltherm® M | Mineral based heat transfer fluid. Retrieved June 6, 2023, from https://globalhtf.com/heat-transfer-fluids/shell-Thermia-b/. (Accessed 10 September 2022).

J. A. Duffie and W. A. Beckman, Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes, 4th Editio. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2013.

S. C. Popali, N. R. Yardi, and B. C. Jain, “Cooking at low temperatures: energy and time requirements,” Proc. Indian Acad. Sci., vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 331–337, 1979, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02848930.