A KEY REVIEW ON EXERGETIC ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Abstract

Energy resources and their utilization relate to sustainable development. In attaining sustainable development, increasing the energy efficiencies of processes utilizing sustainable energy resources plays an important role. The utilization of renewable energy offers a wide range of exceptional benefits. There is also a link between exergy and sustainable development. Exergy analysis has been widely used in the design, simulation and performance evaluation of solar energy systems. Solar energy is clean, abundant and easily available renewable energy. This paper reviews exergetic analysis of solar energy systems (solar collector applications such as solar water heating systems, photovoltaics). A detailed energy and exergy analysis is carried out to calculate the thermal and electrical parameters, typical solar collector. An improved electrical model is used to estimate the electrical parameters of a collector. Further, a modified equation for the exergy efficiency of a collector is derived in terms of design and climatic parameters. In this regard, general relations between energy, exergy, and entropy are given.This very useful knowledge is also needed for identifying energy efficiency and/or energy conservation opportunities, as well as for dictating the right energy and exergy management strategies of a country.