In a significant advancement towards enhancing sustainable energy education, Ecosense has installed an innovative Solar Thermal (FPC) Training System at the renowned Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Hyderabad. This cutting-edge training system is crafted to offer students practical experience and in-depth understanding of solar thermal technology, effectively bridging the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application. As the global focus shifts towards renewable energy solutions, the installation at JNTU Hyderabad represents a pivotal step in preparing future engineers and scientists with the expertise required to spearhead the green energy movement.
Ecosense’s Solar Thermal Training System
Ecosense’s Solar Thermal Training system is a replica of the Solar Flat plate collector-based water heating system. It is designed specifically in the form of an experimental setup. It helps students learn and experiment on different parameters of Solar Thermal Flat Plate Collector System.
This system can be divided in three parts viz. main collector system, measuring unit and artificial light unit. Main Collector system consists of a Flat Plate collector with temperature, flow and pressure sensors to measure temperature, flow and pressure of fluid. Measuring unit consists of a measurement panel displaying different parameters and Artificial light unit/ heat generating unit is a Halogen lamp panel to uniformly illuminate the flat plate collector inside a Lab. Artificial Light facilitates a user to do his/her work without depending on climatic changes in the environment.
Modular and scalable design of the system allows user to move the system in and out of lab easily and conduct experiment with artificial lights as well as actual sunlight. Using the system, a user will be able to study and understand working and operation of a flat plate collector water heating system and its two modes of operation. The system helps students in practical understanding of various technical parameters such as Overall heat loss coefficient, heat removal factor and efficiency at different varying input parameters like radiation, wind speed, inclination angle etc.
Technical Advantages of Solar Thermal Training System
• Modular and scalable design
• 2 auxiliary tanks for non-stop experimentation
• Artificial source of irradiance
• All the parameters such as wind speed, inclination, flow rate, irradiance can be controlled by the user
• Inbuilt facility analogous to rooftop and hot water tank compatible to perform experiment both outdoor and indoor environment
• Provision to perform experiment in both Thermosyphonic and forced mode of operation.
• An active measurement panel to measure inlet temperature, outlet temperature, plate temperature, flow of water and wind speed.
Learnings from Solar Thermal Training system
• Evaluation of different parameters (UL, FR and η) in thermosyphonic mode of flow with fixed input parameters
• Evaluation of different parameters (UL, FR and η) in thermosyphonic mode of flow at different radiation level
• Evaluation of different parameters (UL, FR and η) in thermosyphonic mode of flow at different inlet water temperature
• Evaluation of different parameters (UL, FR and η) in thermosyphonic mode of flow with different wind speed
• Evaluation of different parameters (UL, FR and η) in forced mode of flow with fixed input parameters
• Evaluation of different parameters (UL, FR and η) and drawing of different curves in forced mode of flow with different flow rate
• Evaluation of different parameters (UL, FR and η) in forced mode of flow at different radiation level
• Evaluation of different parameters (UL, FR and η) in forced mode of flow at different inlet water temperature
• Evaluation of different parameters (UL, FR and η) in forced mode of flow at different wind speed
• Evaluation of different parameters (UL, FR and η) in forced mode of flow at different incident angle
• Evaluation of different parameters (UL, FR and η) in thermosyphonic mode of flow at different tilt angle
Ecosense installed Solar Thermal Training System at JNTU, Hyderabad
Master’s Training Conducted
After successful installation of system, 1-day master’s training program is conducted. This master’s training was focused on how to efficiently utilize the system in core-curriculum development and practical experimentations.