Modeling And Evaluation Of A Passive Flat-Plate Solar Collector

📄 Project Abstract

This work investigated the variation of top loss heat transfer coefficient with the emittance of the absorber plate, the collector tilt angle and air gap spacing between the absorber plate and the cover plate. The effects of the emittance of the absorber plate, the collector tilt angle and air gap spacing between the plate and the cover on the collector performance were also considered. Data collected from the thermosyphon solar water heater constructed by the National Centre for Energy Research and Development (NCERD), UNN was used in the analysis. Evaluations of thermal losses by radiative and convective heat transfer coefficient were performed. It was observed that increase in the emittance of the absorber plate resulted in dissipation of more heat to the atmosphere and consequent increase in top loss heat transfer coefficient which led to reduced system performance. The collector tilt angle had little effect on the top loss heat transfer coefficient and consequently had insignifica...