Design and fabrication of a storage tank for a concentrating solar system

In this study, an important design geometry thermal storage tank with a capacity of 75 liters was designed and manufactured for the purpose of storing thermal energy and using it in domestic applications through the use of a solar concentrator tracking system (shower and thermal receiver). A solar concentrator was used, consisting of four identical fiberglass parts connected to form a dish structure with a diameter of 1.9 m, a surface area of 3.23 m², an aperture area of 2.805 m², and a focal length of 0.63 m. The dish was covered with a reflective aluminum material. In this work, a conical-shaped heat receiver with a small surface area was used to reduce heat loss. The two-dimensional (x, y) solar collector was connected to a 75-liter thermal storage tank. The tank was made of 2.5 mm thick carbon steel in a rectangular shape with dimensions of 50 cm, 30 cm, and 50 cm. The tank's outer surface was insulated with 10 cm-thick fiberglass insulation. Also, the entire system was connected and operated using water and oil as the heat-transfer medium. The aim of this study focuses on the design and fabrication of a storage tank connected to a solar concentrator (dish or receiver) and the fluid used in the system (water or oil), which transfers heat and stores it in the tank. The results are obtained by experimentally representing the temperature in the storage tank as 79°C, Useful as 1140 watts, and QLoss as 97.2 watts at 28–4–2024 (the fluid heat transfer is water), and the results (temp in storage tank as 85°C, Useful as 894 watts, and QLoss as 76 watts at 14–6–2024). The fluid used to transfer the heat is oil. This work is useful for domestic applications such as solar cookers, water storage tanks, and steam engine operation.