Experimental Evaluation of a Multi-Lens Solar Concentrator with Aluminum Plate Heat Storage and Copper Tube Water Heating
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65405/6x732476Keywords:
Convex lens, Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), Flow rate, Solar Water Heating, Useful Energy.Abstract
This study investigates the thermal performance of a gravity-driven concentrating solar water heating system, where the collector employing a multi-lens optical array. The proposed design incorporates forty convex lenses where these lenses are arranged to concentrate solar radiation onto an aluminum absorber plate. A copper tube attached to the absorber surface to transfer heat to a circulating water with in the system. The flow of circulating water is achieved without the use of mechanical pump, relying entirely on hydrostatic pressure generated by elevating the storage tank above the collector.
Outdoor experiments were conducted to evaluate the behavior of solar irradiance, components temperature, thermal energy gain within storage tank, and overall efficiency of the system. The experimental result shows strong correlation between solar irradiance and thermal response of the collector system. During the periods of peaks solar intensity effective, the aluminum absorber plate and copper tube exhibited rapid temperature increases, which indicates effective solar energy absorption and conductive heat transfer. Furthermore, a consistent temperature difference between the collector inlet and outlet conforming the continuous thermal energy transfer to working fluid. Meanwhile the storage tanks demonstrate a delayed thermal response due to higher thermal inertia and heat storage capacity.
The highest thermal efficiency periods close to solar noon and a similar performance pattern was recorded over operating days. Analyzing of thermal energy showed effective energy storage throughout daylight hours and expected heat losses were noticed during periods of zero irradiance. Overall, the experimental result demonstrates the practical and effectiveness of the proposed pump-free concentrating solar water heating system. The study offering a simple and energy-efficient approach for solar water heating applications, particularly in regions characterized by high solar irradiation levels.
Downloads
References
1. Himangshu Bhowmik, Ruhul Amin., 2017. Efficiency improvement of flat plate solar collector using reflector Published by Elsevier Ltd,.
2. G.D. Rai, “Solar Energy Utilization”, published by Khanna publishers, 5thEdition, 1999.
3. G. Colangelo, E. Favale, P. Miglietta, A. Risi.,2016. Innovation in flat solar thermal collectors: A review of the last ten years experimental results, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, volume57, pp. 1141–1159.
4. Kale, S.S. and Shinde, N.N., 2012. Design and Development of CSP Using Convex Lenses for Domestic Water Heating and Steam Generation. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Research, 1, pp.74-78.
5. Kumar, V.E.V., Vipin, T., Kumar, V.V. and Muhaid, H., Development of CSP using convex lenses for domestic water heating. according to the International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology, pp.2319-1163.
6. Samim, A. and Khatri, A.R., 2023, March. Automatic Solar Based Water Heating System Through Convex Lenses. In 2023 4th International Conference on Computing, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies (iCoMET) (pp. 1-6). IEEE.
7. Suvanjan Bhattacharya, Subhankar Saha, Sujoy Saha, 2013. Laminar flow heat transfer enhancement in a circular tube having integral transverse rib roughness and fitted with Center-cleared twisted tape; Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 44, 727–735.
8. Juan li, Xiang ling and Hao peng, 2013. Field synergy analysis on convective heat transfer and Fluid flow of a novel triangular perforated fin; International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 64, 526-535.
9. Elwalwa, H. M., Zarig, F. H. A., Murad, M. K. H., & Nashnush, A. N. E. (2026). The role of innovation technology in developing solar energy technologies: challenges and future trends towards sustainable development (literature review). Al-Farooq Journal of Sciences, 2(3), 585-594.
10. Thulasi, S Sivasubramaniam, V Thirumaran, 2020. Performance and heat transfer evaluation of convex lens solar water heater with serrated, triangular cut and perforated twist inserts; Materials Science and Engineering, 10.1088/1757-899X/923/1/012073.
11. Arun Munusamy • Debabrata Barik • Prabhakar Sharma • Bhaskar Jyoti Medhi • Bhaskor Jyoti Bora 2023. Performance analysis of parabolic type solar water heater by using copper‑dimpled tube with aluminum coating; Environmental Science and Pollution Research.
12. Billy Anak Sup, Tanti Zanariah Shamshir Ali, Mohd Farid Zainudin,and Rosli Abu Bakar, 2014. Experimental Study of Water Heating Efficiency Between Aluminium and Copper Absorber Plate in Solar Flat Plate Collector; Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol 660.
13. Fadhl Mustafa Alanabi, Abdelhafid A. Almrid, 2023. Solar Lens Concentration for Water Heating: Analyzing Useful Energy and Outlet Temperature Profiles; Tobruk University Journal of Engineering Sciences Vol. 05, No. 01.
14. Eltoumi, F. M., Ahmed, S., & Alhamisi, T. (2026). Finite-Control-Set Model Predictive Direct Power Control of Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Inverters. Al-Farooq Journal of Sciences, 2(3), 1505-1520.
15. Prasad, P.R., Byregowda, H.V., Gangavati, P.B; 2010, Experiment Analysis of Flat Plate Collector and Comparison of Performance with Tracking Collector, European Journal of Scientific Research Volume 40 No. 1, pp.144-155.
16. Incropera, F. P., DeWitt, D. P., Bergman, T. L., & Lavine, A. S. (2011). Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer (7th ed.). Wiley.
17. Duffie, J. A., & Beckman, W. A. (2013). Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes.
