Modeling the Feasibility of Using Solar Thermal Systems for Meeting the Heating Requirements at Corn Ethanol Production Facilities

Figure 3

Model of a 5,000m² gross area flat plate and evacuated tube collector array for solar resources at 18 ethanol plant locations and an average inlet temperature of 30°C. For the flat plate collector, =0.72 and = 4.5 W/m²-°C), and for the evacuated tube collector, =0.59 and = 1.5 W/m²-°C).