An experimental investigation of performance of a 3-D solar conical collector at different flow rates

Document Type : Full Length Research Article

Authors

1 Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering

2 Azad Street . No#35 Behbahan, Iran

Abstract

The shape of a solar collector is an important factor in solar-to-thermal energy conversion. Conical shape is one of the stationary and symmetric shapes that can be employed as a solar water heater. Flow rate of working fluid on the solar collector has an important effect on the efficiency of the collector. The present study is an experimentally investigated of the performance of the solar conical collector with 1m2 of absorber area at different volumetric flow rates. Water was used as the working fluid with the volumetric flow rate between 0.35-2.8 lit/min and the experiment was held in the ASHRAE standard conditions. The results demonstrated that the efficiency of the conical collector is increased by increasing the flow rate of the working fluid; in addition, the difference between inlet and outlet temperatures is decreased. The maximum recorded outlet-temperature of the collector during the experimental tests was 77.1 0 C and the maximum value of thermal efficiency was about 60%.

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References

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History

  • Receive Date: 13 May 2016
  • Revise Date: 05 October 2016
  • Accept Date: 23 October 2016

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