Solar Thermal Module for a Hybrid Micro-CHP Test Bed for Off-grid Areas in Pakistan /

Abstract

The dominant concern while considering energy poverty in Pakistan is always assumed to be the electricity shortfall. However, it is often that the crippled and inadequate gas network in Pakistan is overlooked. The off-grid population of Pakistan hence is not only in dire need of distributed electricity generation but overall energy solutions which encompass requirements such as hot water and combustible gas for cooking applications. The developed system in this study aims to provide an economically feasible and complete energy solution for the rural off-grid populace in the country given its output of electrical power (5kW), hot water and combustible syngas. The stand-alone hybrid micro combined heat and power (micro-CHP) system comprises of a combustion module and a solar thermal collector module; in the form of a biomass gasifier and a compound parabolic concentrating collector respectively. This study focuses primarily on the development and experimental characterization of the solar thermal module. It also discusses some aspects of the overall hybrid system; which include manufacturing considerations, operational strategies and economic feasibility analysis using RETScreen4.