Solar Simulator Laboratory

Department of Energy and Process Engineering

Solar Simulator Laboratory

Outdoor testing of solar concentrators depends on the season and on the daily weather. The sun intensity in Trondheim during summer time is quite good (often 900 W/M2), as the air is most often clean and dry. The limiting factor is the low number of sun-hours, since we often have cloudy weather and the winter is dark. Heat storages and some heat transfer methods can be tested with artificial heating indoors. For absorber testing, a solar simulator is needed.

Photo: Sun simulationSolar simulation at NTNU. Photo: Geir Mogen/NTNU

An assembly of 7 lamps have been constructed, similar to a setup from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but with stronger lamps:

  • R3 Maxi metal halide lamps with HQI-TS 2000 W/D/S bulbs
  • The lamps in the hexagonal assembly can be oriented individually
  • The whole assembly can be lifted and tilted, to direct the rays at different angles
  • 2 KW on each lamps generate a heat, and the lamps are cooled with a fan

A simple cone shaped concentrator can be attached, made of flat MIRO panels (95% reflectance, to provide some reflection effects onto a small area (40 cm diameter). Intensity measurements have been estimated with a thermal method. The intensity is largest at the centre (about 70 kW/m2) and decreases towards the rim (about 50 kW/m2).

Photo: Solar concentrator

 

Research activity

Result 30 of 111 for
Publications Authors Journal Year
Charging of an Air–Rock Bed Thermal Energy Storage under Natural and Forced Convection A.K. Abrha, M.K. Teklehaymanot, M. Bayray, O.J. Nydal ...more authors Energies 2024
An Experimental Comparative Study of Large-Sized Direct Solar Fryers for Injera Baking Applications M.H. Hailu, M. Bayray, A.H. Tesfay, O.J. Nydal ...more authors Energies 2024
Design and experimental analysis on a single tank energy storage system integrated with a cooking unit using funnel system J. Chaciga, K. Nyeinga, D. Okello, O.J. Nydal ...more authors Journal of Energy Storage 2024
Heating and Cooling Performance of Adsorber Bed Powered by Solar Lamps I.J. Mwasubila, C.Z.M. Kimambo, J. Kihedu, O.J. Nydal ...more authors Energy Proceedings 2024
Performance Investigation of Oil-Based Sensible Thermal Storage System for Cooking Applications A.K. Sharoshoy, J. Kihedu, C.Z.M. Kimambo, O.J. Nydal ...more authors Energy Proceedings 2024
Degradation of viscosity of vegetable oils employed for thermal energy storage due to oxidation in ambient temperature M. Bayray, O.J. Nydal ...more authors Journal of Energy Storage 2023
Heat Storage for Cooking: A Discussion on Requirements and Concepts O.J. Nydal ...more authors Energies 2023
Effect of pipeline inclination on multiphase flow A.M. Syikilili, O.J. Nydal, C.Z.M. Kimambo, J. Kihedu ...more authors Experimental and Computational Multiphase Flow 2022
Research on the viscosity of stabilized emulsions in different pipe diameters using pressure drop and phase inversion J. Plasencia, N. Inkson, O.J. Nydal ...more authors Experimental and Computational Multiphase Flow 2022
Assessment of the energy needs for cooking local food in Uganda: A strategy for sizing thermal energy storage with cooker system P.K. Kajumba, D. Okello, K. Nyeinga, O.J. Nydal ...more authors Energy for Sustainable Development 2022
Experimental investigation of a cooking unit integrated with thermal energy storage system P.K. Kajumba, D. Okello, K. Nyeinga, O.J. Nydal ...more authors Journal of Energy Storage 2020
Passive solar system to store heat for cooking O.J. Nydal, S. Thaule, M. Kolderup, K. Gustafson, P. Bjerre ...more authors Proceedings of the ISES Solar World Congress 2019 and IEA SHC International Conference on Solar Heating and Cooling for Buildings and Industry 2019 2020
A numerical study on vortex-induced vibrations and the effect of slurry density variations on fatigue of ocean mining risers M.J. Thorsen, N.R. Challabotla, S. Saevik, O.J. Nydal ...more authors Ocean Engineering 2019
THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF A SINGLE BED ACTIVATED CARBON-AMMONIA ADSORPTION REFRIGERATION SYSTEM M. John, O.J. Nydal, C.Z.M. Kimambo, J. Kihedu ...more authors Energy Proceedings 2019
EFFECTS OF PIPELINE INCLINATION ON TWO PHASE FLOW PATTERNS A.M. Syikilili, C.Z.M. Kimambo, J. Kihedu, O.J. Nydal ...more authors Energy Proceedings 2019
Two-way coupled fluid-structure interaction of gas-liquid slug flow in a flexible riser: Small-scale experiments and simulations J.J. Vieiro, A. Akhiiartdinov, S. Saevik, C.M. Larsen, O.J. Nydal ...more authors Multiphase Science and Technology 2019
Prediction of the critical gas velocity of liquid unloading in a horizontal gas well Z. Wang, L. Guo, S. Zhu, O.J. Nydal ...more authors SPE Journal 2018
Multiphase flow in flexible pipes: Simulations and small scale experiments J.J. Vieiro, Z. Wang, O.J. Nydal ...more authors 11th North American Conference on Multiphase Technology 2018
Flow models and numerical schemes for single/two-phase transient flow in one dimension X. Du, O.J. Nydal ...more authors Applied Mathematical Modelling 2017
Experimental investigation of thermal perfomance for selected oils for solar thermal energy storage and rural cooking application K. Nyeinga, D. Okello, T. Bernard, O.J. Nydal ...more authors ISES Solar World Congress 2017 - IEA SHC International Conference on Solar Heating and Cooling for Buildings and Industry 2017, Proceedings 2017
A direct solar fryer for injera baking application M.H. Hailu, O.J. Nydal, M. Bayray, A.H. Tesfay ...more authors ISES Solar World Congress 2017 - IEA SHC International Conference on Solar Heating and Cooling for Buildings and Industry 2017, Proceedings 2017
Potential application of commercial refrigerants as adsorbate in adsorption refrigeration system M. John, C.Z.M. Kimambo, T.M. Eikevik, J. Kihedu, O.J. Nydal ...more authors ISES Solar World Congress 2017 - IEA SHC International Conference on Solar Heating and Cooling for Buildings and Industry 2017, Proceedings 2017
The effect of boundary conditions and droplet entrainment on severe slugging using a Lagrangian slug tracking model I.E. Smith, O.J. Nydal ...more authors International Journal of Multiphase Flow 2016
Experimental study of dispersed oil-water flow in a horizontal pipe with enhanced inlet mixing, Part 1: Flow patterns, phase distributions and pressure gradients H. Schumann, M. Tutkun, Z. Yang, O.J. Nydal ...more authors Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 2016
Experimental study of dispersed oil-water flow in a horizontal pipe with enhanced inlet mixing, Part 2: In-situ droplet measurements H. Schumann, M. Tutkun, O.J. Nydal ...more authors Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 2016
Mitigation of pig-induced slugs by combination of by-pass pig and inlet separator dual control valves S. Park, M. Kim, O.J. Nydal, I.-B. Lee ...more authors Offshore Technology Conference Asia 2016, OTCA 2016 2016
Dynamic model of a small scale concentrating solar cooker with rock bed heat storage K. Nyeinga, O.J. Nydal, D. Okello, E.J.K.B. Banda ...more authors Journal of Energy in Southern Africa 2016
Experimental investigation on heat extraction from a rock bed heat storage system for high temperature applications D. Okello, O.J. Nydal, K. Nyeinga, E.J.K.B. Banda ...more authors Journal of Energy in Southern Africa 2016
Preparing side charging of PCM storage: Theoretical and experimental investigation A.H. Tesfay, F.Y. Hagos, K.G. Yohannes, O.J. Nydal, M. Bayray ...more authors IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 2015
Droplet Size Measurements in Oil–Water Dispersions: A Comparison Study Using FBRM and PVM H. Schumann, M. Khatibi, M. Tutkun, Pettersen B. H., Z. Yang, O.J. Nydal ...more authors Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology 2015
Publication data downloaded weekly from Scopus API via api.elsevier.com and www.scopus.com.

Visiting address

Visiting address

Varmeteknisk lab (Thermal Engineering lab)
Kolbjørn Hejes v. 1A, NO-7491 Trondheim

Research applications

Research applications

Examples of applications of the solar simulator are:
  • Solar dryer
  • Heat absorbers
  • Solar fryer
  • Heat battery

See previous and current projects.

RSS Publisher

RSS Publisher