Flat plate solar collector networks: Design and retrofit considering fouling effects

• Published in: Thermal science and engineering progress 2024-06, Vol.51, p.102633, Article 102633
• Main Authors: Lugo-Granados, Hebert Gerardo, Picón-Núñez, Martín, Canizalez-Dávalos, Lázaro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Flat plate collectors; Retrofit; Scaling; Solar thermal networks; Thermohydraulic performance
• ISSN: 2451-9049; 2451-9049
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsep.2024.102633

•The effects of fouling due to scaling considered in the retrofit of solar collector fields.•Existing networks retrofitted to enhance energy capture using the installed capacity.•Network arrangement impacts thermohydraulic performance and operational costs.•Series configuration offers better thermal performance compared to parallel designs. This study presents the thermohydraulic principles for retrofitting existing flat plate solar collector networks with the aim of increasing energy capture using the installed capacity. The arrangement of a solar collector field influences its thermohydraulic performance and pumping costs. In this study, factors such as scaling-induced fouling, solar radiation, and flow distribution are considered. The case of an existing plant consisting of a total of 40 collectors is examined. It is concluded that the optimal arrangement should include 8 collectors per line connected in series as a limit to enhance thermohydraulic performance and reduce overall operating costs. The annual savings due to reduced natural gas consumption in the original plant structure (4Lx5px2s) amount to $17,522.72 USD per year; however, modifying the structure to 4Lx10s, the savings increase to $19,818.64 USD per year. Under fouling conditions, the new structure reaches savings of $19,512.41 USD per year. This suggests that, in design, the network configuration should prioritise the number of collectors in series per line, only limited by the increase in pressure drop.