On thermodynamic optimisation of solar collector model under maximum ecological conditions

In this work, within a finite time thermodynamics context, the authors calculate the optimum operation temperature of a solar collector coupled to an endoreversible heat engine (the Curzon-Ahlborn model). This calculation is made under several regimes of performance: maximum efficiency, maximum power output, and maximum ecological function. The authors assume the collector has heat losses given by different heat transfer laws: Newtonian, Dulong-Petit and Stefan-Boltzmann laws. The resulting optimum temperature under ecological conditions is between the maximum power output and the maximum efficiency points. The system's efficiency is calculated in terms of the optimum collector temperature under the three operation regimes mentioned.