Research Article
Modeling the Feasibility of Using Solar Thermal Systems for Meeting the Heating Requirements at Corn Ethanol Production Facilities
Table 2
Model inputs for the simulation results shown in Figure
11 for different installed costs of the solar collectors.
| | PRICE INPUTS |
| | | Flat Plate | Evacuated Tube |
| | Current Average Price of Natural Gas for Industrial Sector, ($/GJ) | 5.16 | 5.16 |
| | Natural Gas Percent Price Increase per Year, | 0.033 | 0.033 |
| | SOLAR INPUTS |
| | Total Area of Each Collector, (m2) | 5 | 5 |
| | Number of Panels, | 1000 | 1000 |
| | Price per square meter, (USD/m2) | $220 / 293 | $293 / 391 |
| | 0.72 | 0.59 |
| | 4.5 | 1.5 |
| | Input temperature of working fluid, | 35 | 35 |
| | Load Factor, | 0.85 | 0.9 |
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