Numerical study of SALSCS demonstration unit in Xi 'an, China, with non-uniform solar irradiation

Solar-Assisted Large-Scale Cleaning System (SALSCS) is a new attempt to alleviate outdoor air pollution by using solar energy. A demonstration unit was built in Xi 'an, China, in 2016. Field tests and numerical simulations were carried out on the demonstration unit in January 2017. Results show that the thermal airflow rate of the south collector is well predicted, while that of the north collector is seriously overestimated, with a deviation between the simulated value and the measured value being as larger as 47.07%. In this paper, an improved numerical simulation method considering the non-uniformity of solar irradiation, the effects of weather condition and the photovoltaic panels of the collector top is presented. Simulation results show that the deviation between the simulated thermal airflow rate of the north collector and the measured value is only 2.13%. Photovoltaic panels on the collector top have a little influence on the thermal airflow rate of the collectors. If the roof of the north and south collectors is covered with all photovoltaic panels, the thermal airflow rate will be reduced only by 6.93% and 7.99%, respectively.