The Indian subcontinent is blessed with an ample amount of sunlight almost all through the year. There is an urgent need of switching over to a perennial source of energy as an alternative to replace all the quickly depleting fossil fuels. There is much interest in non-conventional energy nowadays, so as to tap energy from unassuming but promising quarters like Solar, Wind and Tidal energy. Of those, tapping the heat and infra-red rays from the sun, using air and water as appropriate mediums, separately and together as a whole, is the most easiest and versatile way of energy capture.
This book is concerned with the designing of an efficient solar parabolic collector to trap the solar heat in the receiver through the combination of concave mirrors. A small scale parabolic dish was fabricated with locally available material like stainless steel for the boiler, and painting it black to increase the absorption. As a matter of application of the project, a solar desalination system was integrated with the project to test the feasibility of the research. The desalination system worked successfully in conjunction with the experimental setup and a reduction in the TDS level of the feed water was observed at the condensation end. Thus, the project is feasible for cleaning or purifying the water by renewable sources.
Table of Contents
- Chapter 1: Introduction to solar parabolic concentrator and solar desalination system
- 1.1: Global Energy Consumption and need for renewable energy
- 1.2: Solar Concentrator
- 1.2.1: Solar Photovoltaic
- 1.2.2: Classification of Solar Concentrator
- 1.2.2.1: Fresnel lens Concentrator
- 1.2.2.2: Parabolic Mirrors
- 1.3: Parameter characterizing solar concentrator
- 1.3.1: Aperture Area
- 1.3.2: Acceptance angle
- 1.3.3: Absorber area
- 1.3.4: Concentration ratio
- 1.3.5: Optical efficiency
- 1.4: Solar desalination
- 1.4.1: Classification of solar desalination
- Chapter 2: Project Strategy
- 2.1: Scope of project
- 2.2: Objectives
- 2.3: Problem Statement
- 2.4: Limitations
- 2.5: Literature Review
- 2.6: Data Gathering
- 2.7: Methodology
- Chapter 3: Design and development of the model
- 3.1: Design
- 3.1.1: Designing of a Solar Parabolic Concentrator
- 3.1.2: Designing of a Solar Desalination System
- 3.2: Model Development
- 3.2.1: Instruments and Equipments
- 3.2.1.1: Thermometer
- 3.2.1.2: Digital Solarimeter
- 3.2.1.3: TDS meter
- 3.2.2: Material and Specification
- 3.2.2.1: Receiver
- 3.2.2.1: Support stand
- 3.2.2.3: Support frame
- 3.2.2.4: Mirrors
- 3.2.2.5: Delivery tubes
- Chapter 4: Working of the model
- 4.1: Solar Parabolic Concentrator
- 4.1.1: Manual Tracking Mechanism
- 4.1.2: Boiler
- 4.2: Solar Desalination System
- 4.2.1: Solar Desalinating Kit
- Chapter 5: Results and findings
- 5.1: Data gathering for solar parabolic concentrator
- 5.2: Graphs plotted
- 5.3: TDS reading for Solar Desalination System
- 5.4: Application
- 5.4.1: Solar TEA
- 5.4.2: 15 Minutes to Solar MAGGI
Objectives and Key Themes
The project aimed to design and develop an efficient solar parabolic concentrator and integrate it with a solar desalination system. The feasibility of using this combined system for water purification using renewable energy sources was tested.
- Design and development of a solar parabolic concentrator.
- Integration of the concentrator with a solar desalination system.
- Testing the feasibility of the system for water purification.
- Evaluation of the system's performance and efficiency.
- Exploration of potential applications of the technology.
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1: Introduction to solar parabolic concentrator and solar desalination system: This chapter introduces the urgent need for renewable energy sources due to depleting fossil fuels. It focuses on solar energy as a viable alternative and specifically highlights solar concentrators, particularly parabolic mirrors, as an efficient method for harnessing solar heat. The chapter also introduces solar desalination as a relevant application, classifying different types of solar desalination systems. The overall introduction sets the stage for the project by establishing the context of renewable energy, the specific technology used, and its potential applications.
Chapter 2: Project Strategy: This chapter outlines the project's scope, objectives, and limitations. It details the problem statement – the need for efficient water purification using renewable energy – and reviews existing literature on solar parabolic concentrators and desalination systems. The data gathering methods and overall methodology used in the project are explained, providing a roadmap for the subsequent chapters which detail the design, development, and results of the experiment.
Chapter 3: Design and development of the model: This chapter meticulously describes the design and development of both the solar parabolic concentrator and the integrated solar desalination system. It details the design considerations for the parabolic concentrator, including the use of concave mirrors and a parabolic equation for its shape. It also specifies the materials and instruments used in building the model, such as stainless steel for the boiler, thermometers, and a TDS meter for water quality measurement. The chapter's significance lies in providing a thorough understanding of the experimental setup.
Chapter 4: Working of the model: This chapter explains the operational principles of the constructed model. It describes the manual tracking mechanism for optimizing sunlight collection by the parabolic concentrator and the functioning of the boiler. The chapter also clarifies how the solar desalination system operates in conjunction with the concentrator, detailing the solar desalinating kit and its role in the overall process. This chapter is crucial for understanding how the experimental setup functioned in practice.
Chapter 5: Results and findings: This chapter presents the results of the experiment. It includes data on the temperature achieved by the parabolic concentrator in different receiver materials, along with graphs illustrating these findings. The TDS readings from the desalination system are presented, demonstrating the reduction in total dissolved solids after the process, proving the system’s effectiveness. Finally, potential applications of the technology, such as using the generated heat for food preparation, are also discussed.
Keywords
Solar parabolic concentrator, solar desalination, renewable energy, water purification, sustainable technology, thermal energy, concave mirrors, TDS, experimental design, energy efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions: Solar Parabolic Concentrator and Solar Desalination System
What is the main topic of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of a project focused on designing and developing a solar parabolic concentrator integrated with a solar desalination system. It details the project's objectives, methodology, results, and potential applications.
What are the key objectives of the project?
The project aimed to design and develop an efficient solar parabolic concentrator, integrate it with a solar desalination system, test the system's feasibility for water purification, evaluate its performance and efficiency, and explore potential applications.
What are the different chapters included in the document?
The document is organized into five chapters: Chapter 1 introduces solar concentrators and desalination; Chapter 2 outlines the project strategy; Chapter 3 details the design and development of the model; Chapter 4 explains the model's working; and Chapter 5 presents the results and findings.
What type of solar concentrator was used in the project?
The project utilized a solar parabolic concentrator, specifically employing parabolic mirrors to concentrate sunlight.
How does the solar desalination system work?
The solar desalination system is integrated with the solar parabolic concentrator. The concentrated solar heat is used to evaporate water, leaving behind impurities. The evaporated water is then condensed and collected as purified water.
What materials and instruments were used in the project?
The project used various materials, including mirrors, a receiver, a support stand, a support frame, and delivery tubes. Instruments included a thermometer, a digital solarimeter, and a TDS meter.
What were the key findings of the project?
The project successfully demonstrated the feasibility of using a combined solar parabolic concentrator and desalination system for water purification. The results, including temperature data and TDS readings, are presented graphically in the document, showcasing the system's effectiveness.
What are the potential applications of this technology?
The technology's potential applications include water purification in areas with limited access to clean water and using the generated heat for various purposes, such as food preparation (examples provided include making tea and instant noodles).
What are the limitations of the project?
The document mentions limitations of the project, though the specifics are not detailed in this preview. Refer to Chapter 2 for a complete description.
Where can I find more detailed information about the project methodology?
Chapter 2 provides a detailed explanation of the project strategy, including the problem statement, literature review, data gathering methods, and overall methodology.
What are the keywords associated with this project?
Keywords include: Solar parabolic concentrator, solar desalination, renewable energy, water purification, sustainable technology, thermal energy, concave mirrors, TDS, experimental design, and energy efficiency.
- Quote paper
- Debajyoti Bose (Author), Krishnam Goyal (Author), Vidushi Bhardwaj (Author), 2016, Design and development of a solar parabolic concentrator and integration with a solar desalination system, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/377110
