Ecosense installs Solar Concentrator Training System at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Government Engineering College, Sudernagar, Mandi.
Jawaharlal Nehru Government Engineering College (JNGEC) is an engineering college situated in Sudernagar, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, with a vision to bloom into centre of excellence and become pace setter by opting quality processes interwoven with freedom of flexibility, and, to mould professionals of superior quality dedicated to the progress and development of humanity.
Ecosense helped in realising their vision by installing a Solar Concentrator Training System, which is a miniaturised version of Parabolic Tough Collector based system which can be used for experimentation and research purpose by the institute.
Solar Concentrator Training System
The Solar Concentrator Training System is a compact and miniaturized version of Solar parabolic trough collector-based water heating system. The system consists of parabolic reflectors, absorber tube, sun tracker, piping, storage tanks and a heat exchanger. A control panel would control different devices and also measure the different parameters of the system. The system can be used to perform experiments on heat transfer, parabolic trough characteristics and heat loss at different parts of the system. The system is highly flexible – it can be used with different working fluids, different absorbing materials, different piping insulation thickness and different types of storage tanks. This gives a lot of scope for research in heat transfer and related fields. Wind speed variation and flow velocity are other parameters which can be changed to show their impact on heat transfer and heat loss.
The system enables user to study and learn about Solar thermal technologies in easy and interactive manner. It educates the user about basics on solar thermal Solar Parabolic Trough Collector technology, basic terminologies used for solar thermal technology like temperature, pressure, flow measurement install collector/receiver mounting structures on the foundations etc.
How can Solar Concentrator Training system help students?
• System comes with active dual axis sun tracking mechanism, so that precise readings can be taken over a period of time.
• System comes with two absorber tubes. These two absorber tubes can be used with two different types of fluids. A student can conduct experiment on different types of fluid and calculate parameters such as thermal efficiency, heat loss factor etc.
• There is a provision to vary the flow rate of liquid which enables students to find the optimal flow rate at which they can get maximum temperature gain.
• The system comes with an active measurement panel to measure temperatures, pressures and flow at different locations of the system so that a student can visualize the working of system clearly.
• The wheels provide mobility to the system so it can be transferred from one location to other easily.
What experiments one can perform using the system?
• Determine the Performance factors such as Heat loss coefficient (UL), Heat Removal Factor (FR), Overall efficiency (η) of the of the Parabolic Trough collector with fixed parameters with (i) water and (ii) oil as working fluid
• Determine the Performance factors such as Heat loss coefficient (UL), Heat Removal Factor (FR), Overall efficiency (η) of the Parabolic Trough collector with varying solar insulation with (i) water and (ii) oil as working fluid
• Determine the Performance factors such as Heat loss coefficient (UL), Heat Removal Factor (FR), Overall efficiency (η) of the Parabolic Trough collector with varying flow rate of fluid with (i) water and (ii) oil as working fluid
• Determine the Performance factors such as Heat loss coefficient (UL), Heat Removal Factor (FR), Overall efficiency (η) of the Parabolic Trough collector with changing insulation thickness with (i) water and (ii) oil as working fluid
• Determine the Performance factors such as Heat loss coefficient (UL), Heat Removal Factor (FR), Overall efficiency (η) of the Parabolic Trough collector with different inlet fluid temperatures with (i) water and (ii) oil as working fluid
• Determine the Performance factors such as Heat loss coefficient (UL), Heat Removal Factor (FR), Overall efficiency (η) of the Parabolic Trough collector with different wind speed with (i) water and (ii) oil as working fluid
• Determine the Performance factors such as Heat loss coefficient (UL), Heat Removal Factor (FR), Overall efficiency (η) of the Parabolic Trough collector with different ambient temperature with (i) water and (ii) oil as working fluid
• Find an optimum flow rate of fluid for getting minimum heat losses (or maximum heat gain) for different insulation thickness with (i) water and (ii) oil as working fluid
Demonstration of Equipment Conducted
Participants during Demonstration of System
Ecosense also conducted a demonstration of equipments for training Professors and Scholars. This training program was focused on educating and training the professors, scholars and technicians in Solar Parabolic Trough Collector Technology who will further train thousands of students and professionals to start their career or business in this very field.