ISSN Online: 2377-424X
ISBN Print: 978-1-56700-421-2
International Heat Transfer Conference 15
Design and Analysis of a Rooftop Solar Furnace
Abstract
A rooftop solar furnace has been designed and modeled for installation at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. A unique fold-down design is employed which allows for easy installation and negligible wind loading in the rooftop environment. In this design the rig can be lowered below parapet walls for stowage and during wind events. At a concentration ratio of ~850 suns, the solar furnace is capable of achieving >700oC temperatures in a 0.1m diameter aperture receiver. A fully instrumented cavity receiver (made of a nickel-based alloy, trade named ‘Hasteloy X’) was also designed to allow experimental testing for a wide range of fluids. In this study, theoretical ray tracing and CFD modeling are presented to analyze and compare the design, on the basis of power, operational temperature and optical efficiency, against other solar furnaces from around the world. Overall, this system represents a relatively low-cost, custom design which enables experimentation for a diverse range of research projects requiring high flux solar inputs.