A Short Review on Concentrator Collectors by Incorporating the Impact of Material on The Attainment

This article primarily focuses on advancements in the realm of solar concentrating collectors (SCCs) with an emphasis on improving heat transfer efficiency (HTE) through the integration of phase change materials (PCMs) and absorbing materials. Within this article, a comprehensive examination is undertaken to evaluate the impact of combining concentrating collectors with PCMs and reflectors to enhance HTE. Among the diverse geometries explored for this purpose, integrating SCCs with PCMs and reflectors stands out as an efficient and cost-effective design solution. PCMs, acting as thermal storage units, play a pivotal role in augmenting the efficiency of solar concentrating collectors. They effectively function as thermal batteries, contributing to increased performance. The incorporation of reflectors into solar water heaters (SWH) or solar air heaters (SAH) also proves to be instrumental in optimizing the capture of solar radiation. These reflectors redirect incident solar radiation onto the absorber plate, subsequently amplifying the quantity of absorbed solar energy. Within this article, the focus centers on the review of experimental studies concerning HTE in SCCs. The primary objective is to provide an overview of various investigations that have harnessed diverse PCMs and reflectors to enhance heat transfer processes. Ultimately, the aim is to propose an optimized configuration that delivers superior performance in the field of solar energy collection and utilization.