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Solar flat plate collectors are commonly used to transform solar energy into thermal one by heating a heat transfer fluid (HTF). The available thermal energy to the user is characterized by a certain thermal capacity and a certain temperature level. Comparing to the case of a single collector, when a higher thermal capacity is required in the user process, more collectors should be coupled in parallel, so that the HTF mass flow rate is increased, exiting the solar collector at the same temperature. Another case may be encountered when the user process requires the same mass flow rate of HTF, but at a higher temperature. In this last case, a series connection is considered. The aim of the present paper is to compare these cases and to build a solar panel map that could be used to choose the best arrangements for a specific user need. A study is performed regarding the map dynamics with respect to HTF consumption to the user for three storage tank capacities of 100L, 200L and 300L respectively. The results reveal a recommendation regarding collectors coupling function on user needs.

Storage processes are usually integrated in solar energy systems applications due to daily variation of this energy source availability. Among different thermal storage solutions, phase change materials (PCM) lately became more extensively used covering a wide range of operating temperatures. In this regard, a numerical simulation of a PCM melting process is performed under ANSYS CFD environment. A particular configuration is considered consisting in a 2m length annular tube having a 5.48 cm external diameter. The tube is filled with paraffin chosen as PCM. A concentric interior tube of 2.54 cm diameter is used for transporting the heat transfer fluid (HTF) from the solar collector. Heat is transferred through the 1 mm thick pipe wall to the PCM placed all around the HTF tube. The numerical results reveal the melting process of the PCM at different instances and tube sections. The time variation of the PCM liquid fraction is emphasized. The results describe the dynamic behavior of a PCM melting process and might be further integrated in any solar power plant storage charging process simulation.

This paper describes the development of a small-scale solar simulator for research and educational purposes. The main goal is to provide a uniform and stable distribution of irradiation from a set of four floodlight halogen lamps, over a targeted area of 40x40 cm2. The floodlights are placed perpendicularly to each other, on the top end of a light tube. Two types of halogen lamps were characterised and the total irradiation of the solar simulator was measured over a 5x5 grid. The results showed that the two arrangements of lamps are able to achieve a level of 1000 W/m2 on the 40x40 cm2 targeted area, but the non-uniformity is unsatisfactory. In order to reach a non-uniformity level of 10% using the proposed lamps arrangements, the targeted area should be reduced to 31x31 cm2.