Energy analysis and improvement potential of finned double-pass solar collector

Abstract Steady state energy balance equations for the finned double-pass solar collector have been developed. These equations were solved using the matrix inversion method. The predicted results were in agreement with the results obtained from the experiments. The predictions and experiments were observed at the mass flow rate ranging between 0.03 kg/s and 0.1 kg/s, and solar radiation ranging between 400 W/m2 and 800 W/m2. The effects of mass flow rates and solar radiation levels on energy efficiency, exergy efficiency and the improvement potential have been observed. The optimum energy efficiency is approximately 77%, which was observed at the mass flow rate of 0.09 kg/s. The optical efficiency of the finned double-pass solar collector is approximately 70–80%. The exergy efficiency is approximately 15–28% and improvement potential of 740–1070 W for a solar radiation of 425–790 W/m2.

[1]  J. S. Saini,et al.  Exergy based analysis of solar air heater having discrete V-down rib roughness on absorber plate , 2012 .

[2]  K. S. Ong.  Thermal performance of solar air heaters: Mathematical model and solution procedure , 1995 .

[3]  Kamaruzzaman Sopian,et al.  Review of solar dryers for agricultural and marine products , 2010 .

[4]  Vassilis Belessiotis,et al.  Assessment of uncertainty in solar collector modeling and testing , 1999 .

[5]  M. N. Metwally,et al.  Performance of advanced corrugated-duct solar air collector compared with five conventional designs , 1997 .

[6]  Said Farahat,et al.  Analysis of exergy and parametric study of a v-corrugated solar air heater , 2012 .

[7]  Elradi A. Musa,et al.  Evaluation of thermal efficiency of double-pass solar collector with porous-nonporous media , 2009 .

[8]  Azharul Karim,et al.  Performance investigation of flat plate, v-corrugated and finned air collectors , 2006 .

[9]  Sukhmeet Singh,et al.  Low cost solar air heater , 2012 .

[10]  A. E. Kabeel,et al.  Shape optimization for absorber plates of solar air collectors , 1998 .

[11]  A. Lashkari,et al.  Performance evaluation of a natural-convection solar air-heater with a rectangular-finned absorber plate , 2011 .

[12]  Calculation of the glass cover temperature and the top heat loss coefficient for 60° vee corrugated solar collectors with single glazing , 2012 .

[13]  S. Youcef-Ali,et al.  Study and optimization of the thermal performances of the offset rectangular plate fin absorber plates, with various glazing , 2005 .

[14]  Abdelhafid Moummi,et al.  Energy analysis of a solar air collector with rows of fins , 2004 .

[15]  E. Akpinar,et al.  Drying of mint leaves in a solar dryer and under open sun: modelling, performance analyses. , 2010 .

[16]  S. Youcef-Ali,et al.  Numerical and experimental study of a solar equipped with offset rectangular plate fin absorber plate , 2006 .

[17]  Soteris A. Kalogirou,et al.  Solar thermal collectors and applications , 2004 .

[18]  W. Gool.  Energy Policy: Fairy Tales and Factualities , 1997 .

[19]  V. K. Sharma,et al.  Efficiency test of solar collectors: uncertainty in the estimation of regression parameters and sensitivity analysis , 2002 .

[20]  Hikmet Esen,et al.  Experimental energy and exergy analysis of a double-flow solar air heater having different obstacles on absorber plates , 2008 .

[21]  Olivério D. D. Soares,et al.  Innovation and technology : strategies and policies , 1997 .

[22]  Chii-Dong Ho,et al.  Heat-transfer enhancement in double-pass flat-plate solar air heaters with recycle , 2005 .

[23]  Alexander Kukush,et al.  Measurement Error Models , 2011, International Encyclopedia of Statistical Science.

[24]  Paisarn Naphon,et al.  On the performance and entropy generation of the double-pass solar air heater with longitudinal fins , 2005 .

[25]  Fatih Koçyiğit,et al.  Energy and exergy analysis of a new flat-plate solar air heater having different obstacles on absorber plates , 2010 .

[26]  A. Al-Ghandoor,et al.  Experimental investigation of the performance of five types of solar collectors , 2013 .

[27]  Damir Dović,et al.  Numerically assisted analysis of flat and corrugated plate solar collectors thermal performances , 2012 .