WSEAS Transactions on Environment and Development
Print ISSN: 1790-5079, E-ISSN: 2224-3496
Volume 8, 2012
Field Study of Solar Bowl Under Malaysian Tropical Climate
Authors: , , , ,
Abstract: Results of a field study of a solar bowl operating under Malaysian tropical condition are presented. A total of 40 days data was collected over a period of four months. The solar bowl was capable of concentrating high amount of heat during solar noon up to about ± 20o zenith angular deviation. The maximum temperature achieved was more than 200 oC. For global irradiance of less than 400 W/m2, the temperature developed along the receiver was less than 100 oC. A correlation between the concentration ratio and the slope of the temperature–direct irradiance curve is presented which indicates that a high concentration solar collector has better potential in tropical area at the sampling time. The simulated maximum concentration ratio was 95 and together with the empirical observation, solar bowl concentrator should be able to produce power under Malaysian tropical climate.