Thermal Convexity Analysis of a Solar Water Heating System

This book delivers a comprehensive study of thermal convexity analy-sis, a key methodology for understanding and optimizing solar water heating systems. It bridges pressing global energy challenges, solar thermal technologies, and advanced heat transfer principles. The book opens with the global energy context, highlighting the rising importance of solar power in achieving sustainable energy goals. A detailed review of solar thermal systems follows, covering high-temperature applications (parabolic concentrators, tower plants, cylindrical-parabolic collectors) and low-temperature uses, including pool heating, space heating, and domestic hot water production. The core focus regards the thermal convexity principle, providing a new powerful theoretical framework for analyzing and enhancing heat transfer in fluids, tubular exchangers, and solar receivers. This principle is applied to the modeling and simulation of solar water heating systems, integrating solar radiation, system dynamics, and consumption effects. Thermal Convexity Analysis of a Solar Water Heating System combines simulation and experimental validation with fixed and tracking collectors, demonstrating practical performance improvements. Supported by an appendix on conduction, convection, and radiation, this book is an essential reference for researchers, engineers, and students pushing the frontiers of renewable energy and thermal sciences.