Comparative performance analysis of flat plate solar collector having circular &trapezoidal corrugated absorber plate designs. (15th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sharma, Harish Kumar; Kumar, Satish; Verma, Sujit Kumar
• Is Part Of: Energy. Volume 253(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08-15
• Subjects: Solar-thermal -- Trapezoidal-surface -- Circular-surface -- Innovative design -- Thermal efficiency; Power resources -- Periodicals; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.124137
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-5442

Abstract

Abstract: Flat plate Solar collectors are in use for a long time and have well-established technologies for low-temperature thermal applications. Use of newglazing materials, absorber plate designs, selective coatings, and advanced working fluids, thermal conversion efficiencies of these devices can be further improved. Design modification always comes under top priority because it brings auxiliary changes that further modify the system's overall efficiency. Increasing energy demand puts extra attention on the researchers to develop solar thermal energy-based systems. The presented experimental analysis is based on the design modification of the collector absorber plate to modify the contact area between the absorber plate and collector tubes. We performed a comparative performance of the circular absorber surface and the trapezoidal surface of contact with absorber tubes. The following results indicate that the trapezoidal absorber surface serves better over circular and plate absorber surfaces.Thermal efficiency increases by 8.74% and 12.85% for absorber plate's circular and trapezoidal corrugated surfaces. Exergy efficiency is improved by 16.88, 23.31%, and the overall heat loss coefficient decreases by 7.49 and 8.72% for circular and trapezoidal corrugated surfaces, respectively. The collector's heat removal factor is also significantly higher for trapezoidal corrugated absorber plate than the normal collector absorber surface. Highlights: New designs of collector absorber plates tested for higher performance. Thermal efficiency increase by 8.74 & 12.85% for circular and trapezoidal plate. Exergy efficiency is improved by 16.88 & 23.31%, circular and trapezoidal plate. Overall heat loss decreases by 7.49 & 8.72% for circular and trapezoidal plate. Optimized conditions are at Solar intensity∼1000 W/m 2 and mass flow rate ∼1.5L/m.