Abstract :
A system is devised to store the thermal energy of solar radiation in a phase change material by enhancing
the heat transfer rate with the help of heat pipes. The system consists of a parabolic trough collector, a number of
heat pipes, a container filled with phase change material, copper tubes wounding the container, pipes, valves etc.
Solar energy is concentrated to the evaporator side of heat pipes by the parabolic trough collector and the energy is
carried to the phase change material which surrounds the condenser side of heat pipe. The stored energy can be
utilized by passing water through copper tubes wraps around the container. Experiments are conducted in sunny days
of April under real time conditions. Results showed that the system could effectively store thermal energy during
day time. The efficiency of the system is found to be 34.5% which is comparable to any solar thermal system.
Keyword :
Concentrated Solar Power, Parabolic Trough Collector, heat pipe, Latent energy storage.