A Monte Carlo model is applied to determinate the steady state, solar-weighted optical properties of potential thermotropic composite materials for overheat protection of polymer solar absorbers. The key results are dimensionless plots of normal-hemispherical transmittance, reflectance and absorptance as a function of particle size parameter, scattering albedo, and overall optical thickness. The optical behavior of thermotropic materials at different temperatures is represented by a change in the relative refractive index which affects the scattering albedo and optical thickness. At low temperatures where overheat protection is not required, referred to as the clear state, the overall optical thickness should be less than 0.3 to ensure high transmittance for the preferred particle size parameter of 2. At higher temperatures where overheat protection is required, referred to as the translucent state, the overall optical thickness should be greater than 10 and the scattering albedo should be greater than 0.995 to achieve 50% reflectance. A case study of low molecular weighted polyethylene in poly(methyl methacrylate) is presented to illustrate use of the results to guide the design of thermotropic materials.
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Research-Article
A Parametric Numerical Study of Optical Behavior of Thermotropic Materials for Solar Thermal Collectors
Adam C. Gladen,
Adam C. Gladen
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: glad0092@umn.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Minnesota
,111 Church Street SE
,Minneapolis, MN 55455
e-mail: glad0092@umn.edu
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Susan C. Mantell,
Susan C. Mantell
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: smantell@me.umn.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Minnesota
,111 Church Street SE
,Minneapolis, MN 55455
e-mail: smantell@me.umn.edu
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Jane H. Davidson
Jane H. Davidson
1
Fellow ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: jhd@me.umn.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Minnesota
,111 Church Street SE
,Minneapolis, MN 55455
e-mail: jhd@me.umn.edu
1Corresponding author.
Search for other works by this author on:
Adam C. Gladen
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: glad0092@umn.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Minnesota
,111 Church Street SE
,Minneapolis, MN 55455
e-mail: glad0092@umn.edu
Susan C. Mantell
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: smantell@me.umn.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Minnesota
,111 Church Street SE
,Minneapolis, MN 55455
e-mail: smantell@me.umn.edu
Jane H. Davidson
Fellow ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: jhd@me.umn.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Minnesota
,111 Church Street SE
,Minneapolis, MN 55455
e-mail: jhd@me.umn.edu
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Heat Transfer Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF HEAT TRANSFER. Manuscript received July 31, 2013; final manuscript received March 5, 2014; published online April 8, 2014. Assoc. Editor: Wilson K. S. Chiu.
J. Heat Transfer. Jul 2014, 136(7): 072703 (12 pages)
Published Online: April 8, 2014
Article history
Received:
July 31, 2013
Revision Received:
March 5, 2014
Citation
Gladen, A. C., Mantell, S. C., and Davidson, J. H. (April 8, 2014). "A Parametric Numerical Study of Optical Behavior of Thermotropic Materials for Solar Thermal Collectors." ASME. J. Heat Transfer. July 2014; 136(7): 072703. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4027153
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