EARIST MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Republic of the Philippines

EULOGIO “AMANG” RODRIGUEZ INSTITUTE OF
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOOGY
College of Engineering

“ASSIMILATION OF A SOLAR CONCENTRATOR USING WATER AS A

WORKING MEDIUM”
A Thesis Presented to
the Department of College of Engineering
Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology
Nagtahan, Sampaloc, Manila

__________________________________________

In Partial Fulfilment of the

Requirements in Methods of Research for the
Degree of Bachelor of Science in
Mechanical Engineering

By

Angustia, Sharina A.
Antonio, Jonalyn F.
Cabil, Lawrence Ivan S.
De Castro, Edilyn Grace B.
Degala, Jenesis D.
Eligio, John Elmer A.
Mendoza, Neil J.
Nini, Kenman Ivory A.
Quiban, Remalyn C
Ricamara, Gian Clint P.
Rosal, Renz Louis S.
Ross, Glecy D.
Torrigoza, Timothy James J.

March 2019

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Republic of the Philippines

EULOGIO “AMANG” RODRIGUEZ INSTITUTE OF
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOOGY
NAGTAHAN, SAMPALOC
MANILA

______________________________________________________

APPROVAL SHEET
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

The research and project study entitled “Assimilation of a Solar Concentrator using
water as a working medium” has been completed, submitted and recommended for
approval oral defense.

__________________________ _________________________
Engr. Antonio C. Rilloraza Jr. Engr. Jay R H. Meneses
Panel/Member Panel/Member

_______________________
Kristallynn Tolentino
Panel/Member

_______________________
Engr. Robel A. Nomorosa
Panel/Chairman

_____________________________
Luisito B. Tolentino, M.E, M.A Ed
M.E Chairman/Adviser

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DEDICATION

We decided this attainment

For the College of Engineering of the Eulogio “AMANG “Rodriguez

Institute of Science and Technology.

Our Almighty God,

Our Families,

Our friends and colleagues,

Our beloved Thesis Adviser,

And to our respective Thesis Coordinator.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This thesis becomes a reality with the kind, support and help of many individuals.

The Researcher’s would like to thank the following persons for the assistance extended to

them.

Foremost, I want to offer this endeavor to our God Almighty for the wisdom he

bestowed upon us, the strength, peace of our mind and good health in order to finish

this research.

We would like to express our gratitude towards our family and especially to

Mendoza and Torrigoza Family for the encouragement and support which help us in

completion of this paper and who served as our inspiration to pursue this undertaking.

We express our deep sense of gratitude to Engr. Luisito V. Tolentino, Area

Chairman of Mechanical Engineering Department, EARIST for giving us a golden

opportunity to our education.

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We extremely thankful to Engr. Robel B. Nomorosa as our consultant adviser for

his perfect guidance by giving timely suggestions throughout the tenure of our
researchand also for his continuous of our thesis successfully.

We also thankful to Engr. Jay R H. Meneses, Engr. Inocentes S. Queroljico, and

Engr.Antonio C. Rilloraza for their constant support, advise and motivation throughout
the project.

Finally, we should like to thank the people who help us to construct our all-out
project and research.

The Researcher’s
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ABSTRACT
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CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

This chapter serves as the general situation of the problem. The sign of the problem

and history does answers pertaining to the problem and background of the study. The

purpose of this chapter is to introduce the research problem. The overall focus of the

study is to establish its significance and share the researchers’ ideas and perspective

on how it can affect our society.

INTRODUCTION

Today’s concern regarding society’s energy sources is considered to be one of

the most difficult challenges. The depletion of our non-renewable and pollution-causing

sources of energy such as oil, coal, and natural gas are leading to a dangerous and

uncontrollable growth of the imbalances of ecosystems. These so-called imbalances are

reflected in the irreversible pollution of soil and of the atmosphere. In addition, only

developed countries are capable of accessing majority of the world’s energy sources. It

is a well-known fact that 4/5 of the population are facing multiple difficulties accessing

the different energy sources based on the study of Diogo Canavarro by Universidade de

Evora.

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Thus, the concept of renewable energy is one of the ideal alternatives, given that it is

inexhaustible, non-pollutant, and is naturally distributed over the world. Renewable

energy like the solar concentrator provides affordable electricity by the use of its

conducted energy from the sun. It can stabilize the energy prices in the future for the

next generations. It can also help to lower the demand, and therefore the prices, for

natural gas by diversifying our energy supplies.

Renewable energy is energy that is gathered from renewable resources and are

naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as, wind, sunlight, rain, tides, waves,

and geothermal heat. It often provides energy in four important areas: electricity

generation, air and water heating/cooling, transportation, and rural (or off-grid) energy

services.

Solar concentration is a technology that has been used for many years by

scientists, as this system enables the concentration of solar energy to be focused on a

small area, which allows for a significant increase in energy intensity. The solar

concentrator can generate without any waste or pollution, or depend on the Earth’s

natural resources once they are constructed. They have no moving parts so modules

are very reliable and have a long life-span. The solar concentrator is relatively easy to

install and only requires minimal maintenance.

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BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Modern society is extremely dependent on non-renewable energy sources such

as oil and coal, and both add to the greenhouse gas build-up in the environment.

The researchers found that the solar concentrator is one of the best solution to solve the

concern regarding energy sources. Though the Philippines is a tropical country where

there are only two predominant seasons, this mechanism can be used during the dry

season, when solar energy is at its optimal level.

The solar concentrator offers great potential in term of supplying the world’s

energy needs. However, its current contribution to the world is still limited. This paper

seeks to provide an up-to date review of solar concentrators and their benefits to make

solar technology affordable. This research also seeks to analyze some of the existing

solar concentrators used in the solar technology for the past four decades. Solar

concentrators can generate electricity without any waste or pollution, nor will they

depend on the Earth’s natural resources once they are constructed. In comparison to

other forms of energy, solar energy is the most common source, and is known for its

lifetime availability.

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This is why it is very convenient to use. The researchers, in completing this

paper, seek to add to the literature in the hopes of having this technology become more

affordable, accessible, as well as for society to learn how to maintain such technology at

a long-time scale.

OBJECTIVES

The researchers seek to develop other solar concentrators as well as create their

own solar concentrator as a renewable energy to prevent the usage of more coal and

fossil fuel, which are significant agents that cause air pollution.

Most solar concentrators are built at a large scale and are therefore not

recommended for household use. The researchers studied the concepts behind the

solar concentrator’s processes, in the hopes that in doing so, it becomes more

convenient and affordable for individual use.

1. To use the energy of the sun as a heat source

2. Alternative method to generate steam when the medium is in its boiling point.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

This study made use of the Input – Process – Output (IPO) that serves as a

guide in the conduct of the investigation the paradigm of the study.

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INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

1. Parts and 1. Planning

Materials 2. Preparation and
2. Tools and Designing
ALTERNATIVE
Equipments 3. Construct and
POWER SOURCE
3. Block Diagram Assemble
4. Journal and 4. Testing and
links revision

Input

The input contains the parts and materials, the tools and equipment, block diagram,

journal and links.

Process

The process contains the planning, preparation and designing, construct and

assembly, testing and revision.

Designing

Construct and Assemble; Test and Revision.

Finally, the output presents the study of selecting a working medium and materials of

solar concentrator for maximum energy conversion

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Focal Point is 25 cm F= 25 cm
y= x2 / 4F D= 100 cm

30

20

10

-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 10 20 30 40 50

Let x=10 Let x=40

Y= 102 / 4(25) = 4 y= 402 / 4(25) = 16

Let x=20 Let x=50

Y= 202 / 4(25) = 4 y= 502 / 4(25) = 25

Let x=30

Y= 302 / 4(25) = 9

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x y

10 1

20 4

30 9

40 16

50 25

ASSUMPTIONS / HYPOTHESIS

Sir Charles Parsons’ modern steam turbine invention in 1884 proves that steam

can run a turbine. Hadi Ghasemi, a postdoc in MIT News Department (2014) of

Mechanical Engineering once said that “The sponge-like structure can be made from

relatively inexpensive materials – a particular advantage for a variety of compact, steam

powered applications.”

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He also said that “the steam is important for desalination, hygiene systems and

sterilization. Especially in remote areas where the sun is the only source of energy, if

you can generate steam with solar energy, it would be very useful”.

With this in mind, this research is about solar concentrator that can produce a

steam through the reflection of the sun in the mirror. However, this research seeks to

test a new process that uses a new design in the method of boiling the water to produce

a steam, investigating on whether or not said new technique can speed up the overall

process.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

This study is focused on selecting tough water as the effective heating

medium.Over the recent years, solar energy has been used in a variety of applications,

and can be classified into two main categories: Solar thermal applications and Solar-

electrical power applications.

This research focuses solely on the process of collecting and converting solar radiation

into thermal energy. Solar Thermal Energy is an energy technology used for harnessing

solar energy to generate thermal energy or electrical energy for us in the industrial

sector, as well as in the residential and commercial areas. The steam produced by the

concentrator can be used as useful energy or electricity. This will benefit those living in

isolated areas that cannot be reached by the electricity provided by the government.

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The system presented in this paper is limited by climate constraints, as during the wet

season it may not boil as it does during the dry season.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Nowadays, we live in a society that is dependent to our natural resources and lack

of knowledge about how to use the renewable energy as an alternative source. The

researchers’ design is inspired by those living in far-flung areas, as such a system, if

proven effective, can be used in their individual homes or even in small cities, where

electricity is not as accessible. This design can lessen the pollution produced my power

plants that use oils/fuel and coal to produce energy. The steam energy produced by this

design may be used for many methods as well, like in creating electrical power, in using

steam turbine which may then be used for steam engines, and even for water heaters in

households. This section will provide brief description on the various significances of

following:

 Society

 Isolated Areas

 Environment

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1. Society

Our project will become a big impact into our society for it is very

beneficial when it comes in conserving energy using solar concentrator. It

can be an alternative source producing of energy comes from the power of

sunlight converting into energy especially in Rural Community.

1. Isolated Areas

There’s a lot of isolated areas in our country, for example in an islands or

provinces that is difficult to reach. So with the help of our project, we can

give them access to produce electricity using Renewable Energy from the

sun with the help of our project called “Solar Concentrator”.

2. Environment

The importance of this research is to help our environment to lessen the

pollution caused by using of chemicals such as fuels. The goal of the

study is to become more eco-friendly.

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DEFINITION OF TERMS

Solar Concentrator

It is a mechanism that uses a Fresnel lenses that gets a huge part of the sunlight

and moves it in an exact place through the bended rays of light and concentrate it with

the chosen spot. To start or make a fire using a paper, other people uses this kind of

idea by using a magnifying glass and focuses the rays of sunlight that are passing

through it to the paper.

Solar Energy

This kind of energy that is produced by the heat coming from the sunlight. We

can use this energy by using some technologies like Solar Heating, Photovoltaic, Solar

Thermal Energy, Solar Architecture, Molten Salt Power Plants, Solar Panels and

Artificial photosynthesis.

Maximum Energy Conversion

It is the process of transforming or changing one form of energy into another, like

nuclear energy into heat or mechanical energy into electrical energy.

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Mechanism

In a machine or equipment mechanism is a set of parts (like gears, belt, etc.) that

works together. Without mechanism you cannot run a machine or other equipment. On

the other words, it is the logical assembly of components, elements, or parts and the

associated energy and information flows, that enables a machine process, or systems

to achieve its intended result or work.

Parabolic Reflector

A parabolic Reflector is a kind of reflective surface used to collect or project

energy such as sound, radio waves, light etc. This reflector are also called a paraboloid

reflector, paraboloidal reflector, parabolic dish, parabolic mirror.

Solar Film/Window Film

A slim covered film which can be put inside or in outside the layer of the glass of

an automobiles and boats. It can also be placed inside and outside layers of homes and

buildings’ glass.

Solar Power Satellite

The SPS or known as solar power satellite is a suggested satellite built in high

Earth orbit which applies microwave power transmission to radiate solar power into a

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huge antenna on Earth of where it can be applied in place of popular power sources.

The good side of putting the solar collectors on space is the clear view of the sun, not

influenced by the day or night cycle, weather or seasons. Nevertheless, creating this is

very expensive, and SPSs can't go against popular sources except when non-expensive

launch will be available or except when a space-based manufacturing industry can be

invented and if they will be able to create in an orbit from the materials that are not from

Earth.

Concentrating Solar Power

Concentrating solar power plants are utility-scale generators that produce

electricity, electricity produces charge or electrical power. using mirrors or lens to

efficiently concentrate the sun's energy. the four principal (CSP) technologies are

parabolic troughs, which the design is like a large "U," that has mirrors which is

connected together in long lines. the next one is the dish-stirling that looks like a

parabolic dish. next is central recievers that produces heat from a solar tower that

consist of flat mirrors. and the last one is uses lenses and curved mirrors to focus

sunlight into small, but highly efficient, multi-junction solar cells.

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Fresnel Lens

A Fresnel lens is a compact lens developed by Augustin-Jean a French physicist.

It allows the large aperture and a short focal length without volume and mass of the

material that is required in the conversional design of the lens.

Heated Medium

Heating medium is any liquid or sold materials which is used to convey heat from

a heat source to a process or space being heated like electric heater. the heat is often

used as a temporary or permanent answer to the heat medium which has a various

types used as heat exchangers throughout the plant.

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CHAPTER II

REVIEWS OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter contains gathered information and studies about the history of the

Solar Concentrator. The content of this chapter provides ideas on how does the Solar

Concentrator work and built.

CONCEPTUAL LITERATURE

These concentrators are comprised of a cylindrical concentrator with a cross

sectional shape, and a circular receiver located at the middle of a dish where one

locates the focal point. In essence, it consists of

a circular parabolic reflector with aperture diameter of ( 100 cm ), an absorber

spherical shape made of glass with diameter of ( 10 cm ) and connected copper tube for

a steam outlet with diameter of (.635 cm ). The circular parabolic reflector focuses all

the incident sunlight onto a glass absorber placed on the middle of the dish where one

can see the focal point of the parabolic mirror. To make steam hotter and more efficient,

another strip ring reflector is added to the outside of the parabolic dish, in which focal

point is focused at the top of the solar concentrator, where the coil passage of the

medium is located.

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RESEARCH LITERATURE

According to Nikhil Singh Pundir, Pavan Kumar, Pavan Payani and Pavan

Prasad H.G., of Ramaiah Institute of Technology, a leveled costs of solar energy are

still much higher than conventional energy, and four times than super critical coal

without carbon capture and storage. One of the major factors inhibiting development of

through collectors. Increasing the efficiency of solar concentrator system can partly

alleviate this problem.

The flat plate solar design has become the most popular of collection designs

since they are permanently fixed in position, have simple construction, and requires

minimal maintenance. This system generally consists of the collectors themselves and

some type of conversion medium.The solar rays are converted to electricity for various

uses around the house.

The problem in the past had been financial viability of the technology, but this is

no longer as significant of an issue in today’s age. With the advent of new material

technologies and the fact that demand has increased, the cost of owning such a

system has decreased, and has therefore made it to easier to afford.

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Arukumaran and Christraj (2012) performed experimental analysis of solar

parabolic dish concentrating system which was used for steam generation. The

evaporation part set-up included a solar parabolic dish system and absorber. A

galvanized steel pipe was used to carry water from a tank to the coiled absorber tube

made up of copper and located it to the focal point. The performance of the concentrator

was studied experimentally with the water circulated as heat transfer fluid. Highly

reflected aluminum foil sheet was used for fabrication. The experimental setup was

placed in open, where the tests were carried out. Heat transfer analysis was carried out

to obtain its efficiency. The designed system eliminates tracking the sun in the north-

south to obtain maximum solar energy. The experimental results were taken on summer

and cloud free days. The results of the research showed that the maximum temperature

achieved was 215ᵒ with solar steam conversion efficiency of 60-70%.

Dr. Franz Trieb (2007), investigated the usage of Concentrating Solar Thermal

Power plants to control seawater desalination either by electricity or in the combined

generation, based on the comparisons of each type with the different uses of space

heating and cooling, industrial heating process, refrigeration, steam generation and

water desalination.

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Based on our research in the article of Bernard Milow by Energy and Transport

Programs, and Dr. Franz Trieb by Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, German

Aerospace Center DLR, the improvements of these power plants is continously growing

over their operational lifetime. They said that “The Kramer Junction site has achieved

30% reduction in operation and maintenance costs during five years. This reduction is

the result of major improvements programs for the collector design and the operation

and maintenance procedures, carried out of the Kramer Junction Operating Company

and Sandia National Laboratories.” The study showed that the solar energy can cover

the wide range of the energy-producing applications and can occupy the wide horizon of

the future world energy production.

RELEVANCE TO THE PRESENT STUDY

Solar Concentrator is used to produce electricity sometimes called “Solar

Thermoelectricity”, usually generated through steam. Concentrating technologies exist

in four optical type, namely parabolic trough, dish, concentrating linear Fresnel reflector,

and solar power tower.

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During the last few decades, the huge development of the society led to an increase in

energy consumption. For many years oil, coal and natural gas provided the backbone of

the energy resources. However, such resources cause the intense release of pollutant

gases (including CO2-contributed), the increase of the greenhouse effect, raising the

melting of the polar ice caps, and the deterioration of the air properties.

The solar concentrator has been, since the beginning of human civilization, a

source of energy that has raised considerable interest, and the technology used for their

utilization is developed constantly. The solar concentrator is a technology that has been

used for many years by increase in energy intensity. The receiver, placed at the focus of

the concentrator can use the stored energy to produce electrical energy through the

Stirling engine.

The efficiency of the solar concentrator can be improved with the addition of a

dual axis solar tracker system, which allows a significant increase in the amount of

stored energy. The experimental validation allows to conclude that the application of a

tracking system to the concentrator is very important since a minimum delay of the solar

radiation leads to important losses of system efficiency.

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That being said, it is found that the external factors can affect the final results,

which include the optical and geometrical properties of the collector, the absorptivity, the

position of the receiver, and the weather conditions.

In a world heavily focused on the consumption of energy through fossil fuels, the

negative effects of such sources are a real problem that society needs to face. This

research seeks to prove the benefit of this new technology, that is, the solar

concentrator.

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CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter gives an outline of research methods that were followed in the

study. It provides information on the materials that were used. The purpose of this

chapter is to show and describe the structure of the chosen project design. Researchers

also included the material used to construct this research called “Solar Concentrator”.

And lastly, the researchers also discusses all the methods used for the data.

PROJECT/RESEARCH DESIGN

Typically, the parabolic dish design is used in a solar concentrator because the

high temperature of sun is able to produce more heat for the receiver. In some

concentrators, however, a flat dish surface is used to directly reflect the heat of sunlight

into the medium called water or (H2O). The researchers decided to use a parabolic dish

for our solar concentrator; designed to focus the reflection of the sun to the receiver. In

this design, the parabolic strips reflector is multiplied to absorb more reflection and to

help generate a heat conversion by the process of convection.

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