An Experimental Investigation of Solar Assisted Air Heating for Solid Desiccant Regeneration using Parabolic trough Solar Concentrator

A solar assisted air heating system using parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC) with and without aluminum coil was investigated experimentally. In this experimental study, the reflected solar radiations were directed on absorber tube which was managed at focal length of the parabolic trough. Experimental investigation was comprised in two cases. For case 1, experimentation was carried out without aluminum coil and for case 2, aluminum coil was placed inside evacuated tube to improve the performance of PTSC. In this experimental study, working fluid was an air which collects the heat from evacuated absorber tube. It was observed that, for aluminum coil maximum temperature was 82ºC, which 11% more than case1, also efficiency by using aluminum coil was 7% more than case 1. Hot air obtained from parabolic trough solar concentrator was used to regenerate solid desiccant wheel.