Modeling and Simulation of the Solar Collector Using Different Approaches

This paper presents numerical and experimental investigation of a flat-plate solar collector. Fluid flow and heat transfer in the collector panel are studied by means of distributed-character modeling method (D-C) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations. Further, experimental investigations of the solar collector panel are carried out. The solar collector thermal efficiency is determined according to EN ISO 9806:2013 standard and the absorber temperature distribution is measured through the back side of collector panel. The measured collector thermal efficiency and absorber temperature distribution are compared with the results from two different numerical models. The paper is summarized by discussion about utility value of tested numerical models in various research areas.