Heat Removal Factor In Compound Parabolic Collector Calculator

Collector Heat Removal Factor Equation:

\[ F_R = \frac{m \cdot C_{p,\text{molar}}}{b \cdot U_l \cdot L} \cdot \left(1 - e^{-\frac{F' \cdot b \cdot U_l \cdot L}{m \cdot C_{p,\text{molar}}}}\right) \]

Mass Flowrate (m):

kg/s

Molar Specific Heat Capacity (Cp molar):

J/K·mol

Absorber Surface Width (b):

Overall Loss Coefficient (Ul):

W/m²·K

Length of Concentrator (L):

Collector Efficiency Factor (F'):

Collector Heat Removal Factor (FR):

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1. What is the Collector Heat Removal Factor?

The collector heat removal factor (F_R) is the ratio of the actual heat transfer to the maximum possible heat transfer through the collector plate. It represents the efficiency of heat extraction from a solar collector system.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the heat removal factor equation:

\[ F_R = \frac{m \cdot C_{p,\text{molar}}}{b \cdot U_l \cdot L} \cdot \left(1 - e^{-\frac{F' \cdot b \cdot U_l \cdot L}{m \cdot C_{p,\text{molar}}}}\right) \]

Where:

\( m \) — Mass flowrate (kg/s)
\( C_{p,\text{molar}} \) — Molar specific heat capacity at constant pressure (J/K·mol)
\( b \) — Absorber surface width (m)
\( U_l \) — Overall loss coefficient (W/m²·K)
\( L \) — Length of concentrator (m)
\( F' \) — Collector efficiency factor
\( e \) — Napier's constant (approximately 2.71828)

Explanation: The equation calculates the efficiency of heat removal from a compound parabolic collector based on fluid properties, collector dimensions, and thermal characteristics.

3. Importance of Heat Removal Factor Calculation

Details: Accurate calculation of the heat removal factor is crucial for designing efficient solar thermal systems, optimizing heat transfer performance, and predicting the overall efficiency of compound parabolic collectors.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter all values in the specified units. Mass flowrate, specific heat capacity, absorber width, loss coefficient, and length must be positive values. The collector efficiency factor should be between 0 and 1.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a typical range for the heat removal factor?
A: The heat removal factor typically ranges from 0 to 1, with values closer to 1 indicating more efficient heat extraction from the collector.

Q2: How does mass flowrate affect the heat removal factor?
A: Higher mass flowrates generally increase the heat removal factor as more fluid is available to carry away the collected heat.

Q3: What is the significance of the overall loss coefficient?
A: The overall loss coefficient represents the rate of heat loss from the collector. Lower values indicate better insulation and reduced heat loss.

Q4: How does collector efficiency factor differ from heat removal factor?
A: The collector efficiency factor (F') represents the collector's ability to transfer heat to the fluid, while the heat removal factor (F_R) accounts for both heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics.

Q5: What are typical applications of compound parabolic collectors?
A: Compound parabolic collectors are used in medium-temperature solar thermal applications such as industrial process heating, solar cooling, and concentrated solar power systems.