engleski

Influence of Different Cover Plates Configuration on Thermal Performances of a Polymer Solar Collector

This paper presents numerical analysis of influence of different configurations on thermal performances of a polymer solar collector. Numerical simulations are performed with software package FLUENT. Firstly, two configurations including single cover plate and single cover plate with channels are assessed. Results showed that collector with single cover plate is more efficient than collector with cover plate with channels at lower reduced temperature values. Single cover plate with channels behave like insulator, reducing convective heat loses which results in higher thermal efficiency at higher reduced temperature values. Furthermore, passive overheating protection based on natural convection is examined. Channels inside cover plate relate to channels inside absorber plate allowing for air to flow inside collector. Three different channel widths are considered 4.25, 10, and 20 mm. With such passive method, it is possible to reduce average absorber temperature up to ~20 °C. Present work is a part of the research focused at development of a low-cost polymer solar collector that operates in a drain back system.

numerical simulation ; FLUENT ; heat transfer ; polymer solar collector ; overheating protection

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