Investigation of Mathematical Modelling to Assess the Performance of Solar Flat Plate Collector

Abstract

A study was under taken to assess the performance of solar flat plate water heater. A customized standard test rig was used for the performance study. Heat transfer phenomena in the collector system were calculated by using theoretical model. From the study it was found that various parameters have effects on the performance of the solar collector system are as follows. In order to improve the thermal efficiency of the solar collector system, inlet water temperature should be as low as possible. The efficiency is increases more or less linearly with ambient temperature. Increasing the thickness of insulation beyond 5 cm is worthless. Efficiency of the solar collector system will decreases with increase of wind speed. Transmission ratio of glass cover should be more than 0.95 in order to obtain higher thermal efficiency of the collector. If ambient temperature increases there will be higher efficiency of solar collector system because of less heat loss to thesurroundings.

Keywords

• Solar flat plate collector, Mathematical model, Thermal efficiency of solar collector, Useful heat gain, Solar water heating.

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