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2026 Vol.46, Issue 3 Preview Page
Thermal Performance Analysis of a Tracking Concentrating Solar Thermal System for Agricultural Energy Production

농업에너지 생산을 위한 추적 집광형 태양열 시스템 열 성능 분석

Seung-Hyeon Cheon1
,
Sang-Hyeok Jeong1
,
Beom-Seon Lee2
,
Byeong-Eun Moon3*
천 승현1
,
정 상혁1
,
이 범선2
,
문 병은3*
1M.S. Student, Department of Smart Agriculture Engineering, Sunchon National University
2Assistant Professor, Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University
3Associate Professor, Department of Convergence Biosystems Engineering, Sunchon National University
1국립순천대학교 스마트농업공학과, 석사과정
2국립순천대학교 원예학과, 조교수
3국립순천대학교 융합바이오시스템기계공학과, 부교수
*Corresponding Author
30 June 2026. pp. 29-45
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Abstract

This study aims to enhance the use of renewable energy for heating agricultural facilities by developing and evaluating a dual-axis tracking and concentrating solar thermal system equipped with a Fresnel lens. To increase concentration efficiency, the Fresnel lens was integrated with a precise dual-axis solar tracking mechanism, and a heat-acquisition and circulation system comprising a copper water block was constructed. Outdoor experiments were conducted to measure the solar irradiance, ambient temperature, inlet and outlet temperatures of the heat-transfer fluid, and the temperature of the thermal storage tank. The thermal performance of the system was assessed at flow rates of 1, 2, and 3 L/min. The results revealed an exponential trend between solar irradiance and collector surface temperature. At a flow rate of 2 L/min, the collector achieved efficiencies ranging from 33.3% to 74.8%, with a maximum of 87.5%, which represents the highest performance among the tested conditions. Subsequently, system performance was evaluated by the time required for the thermal storage tank temperature to increase by 10 °C. At 2 L/min, this temperature increase occurred at 5,820 s and resulted in a system efficiency of 60.6%. These findings indicate the potential of the proposed system for generating hot water in agricultural facilities when operated at a relatively favorable flow rate under the present experimental conditions. Further enhancement of the collector insulation is anticipated to minimize heat loss and improve system performance.

Keywords
Agricultural energy
Renewable energy
Solar thermal system
Solar tracking
Fresnel lens
키워드
농업에너지
신재생에너지
태양열 시스템
태양 추적
프레넬 렌즈
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Information
  • Publisher :Korean Solar Energy Society
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국태양에너지학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국태양에너지학회 논문집
  • Volume : 46
  • No :3
  • Pages :29-45
  • Received Date : 2026-03-11
  • Revised Date : 2026-04-14
  • Accepted Date : 2026-04-20
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7836/kses.2026.46.3.029
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