International Conference on Global Trends in Engineering, Technology and Management (ICGTETM-2016)
Investigation of a New Flat Plate Collector Performance for
Solar Water Heating System
Mahesh.V. Kulkarni#1, Dr. D.S. Deshmukh #2
1
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, SSBT`s COET, Bambhori, Jalgaon, M. S., India
2Professor & Head, Mechanical Engineering, SSBT`s COET, Bambhori, Jalgaon, M. S., India
Abstract
An innovative design of solar water heater flat plate
collector is developed and tested. The collector is
made-up of rectangular aluminium pocket having
size 0.35 m X 0.1 m and aluminium pipe. Total
surface area for heat conduction is 0.3183 m2. The
absorber is made of Aluminium box with one large
surface exposed to sunlight having size 900 mm x 600
mm x 120 mm, glass 5 mm thick to cover the box
large open surface, black paint for absorbing solar
radiation
and
insulation
layer.
Maximum
temperature of water obtained at outlet of collector is
about 69 0C. In this paper therefore a new solar
water heating system is economically developed and
investigated.
Keywords: Solar Water Heater Collector,
Rectangular aluminium pocket, water outlet
temperature, efficiency of a collector
I. Introduction
A solar water heater consists of a collector to collect
solar energy and an insulated storage tank to store hot
water. The solar energy incident on the absorber
panel coated with selected coating transfers the heat
to the riser pipes underneath the absorber panel.
The water passing through the risers get heated up
and is delivered the storage tank. The recirculation of
the same water through absorber panel in the
collector raises the temperature to 80 C (Maximum)
in a good sunny day. The total system with solar
collector, storage tank and pipelines is called solar
hot water system.
Broadly, the solar water heating systems are of two
categories. They are: closed loop system and open
loop system. In the first one, heat exchangers are
installed to protect the system from hard water
obtained from borewells or from freezing
temperatures in the cold regions. In the other type,
either thermosyphon or forced circulation system, the
water in the system is open to the atmosphere at one
ISSN: 2231-5381
point or other. The thermosyphon systems are simple
and relatively inexpensive. They are suitable for
domestic and small institutional systems, provided
the water is
Treated and potable in quality. The forced circulation
systems employ electrical pumps to circulate the
water through collectors and storage tanks.
The choice of system depends on heat requirement,
weather conditions, heat transfer fluid quality, space
availability, annual solar radiation, etc. The SHW
systems are economical, pollution free and easy for
operation in warm countries like ours. [1]
Based on the collector system, solar water heaters can
be of two types.
Flat Plate Collectors (FPC) based Solar
Water Heaters
The solar radiation is absorbed by Flat Plate
Collectors which consist of an insulated outer
metallic box covered on the top with glass sheet.
Inside there are blackened metallic absorber
(selectively coated) sheets with built in channels or
riser tubes to carry water. The absorber absorbs the
solar radiation and transfers the heat to the flowing
water.
Solar water heating is now a mature technology.
Wide spread utilization of solar water heaters can
reduce a significant portion of the conventional
energy being used for heating water in homes,
factories and other commercial and institutional
establishments. Internationally the market for solar
water heaters has expanded significantly during the
last decade. [2]
III Design of New Flat Plate Collector
1. Aluminium box with one large surface open
having size 900mmx600mmX120mm.
2. Glass 5 mm thick to cover the box large open
surface
3. Black paint for absorbing solar radiation.
4. Insulation layer 860mmx500mmx30mm
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International Conference on Global Trends in Engineering, Technology and Management (ICGTETM-2016)
Area of box = 0.90 x 0.60 = 0:54 m2
Actual area exposed to solar radiation:L = 0.84m
b = 0.56m
Area =0:84 x 0:56 = 0:4704m2
Fig 1 Design of Aluminium Pocket
Fig 4 Design of Collector box
Fig 2 Assembly of Aluminium Pocket
Design of aluminium pocket
L = 0.35 m
b = 0.1m
Area of pocket = L x b
= 0.35 x 0.1
= 0.035 m2
Assembly of Solar Water Heater
Fig 5 SWH with Aluminium pocket flat plat
collector
Fig 3 Welding of Aluminium Pocket
assembly
Design of Box
L = 0.90m
b = 0.60m
ISSN: 2231-5381
For assembly of the Solar Water Heater placed stand
on the surface where full day sunlight will be there.
The stand is placed in such a way that the solar panel
will be facing to the south, because the intensity of
the sun is less when it is in southern area. (i.e. in
winter).Then mounted tank on the assigned portion at
the top of the stand , then the panel is fitted to the
stand as shown in the figure. Then connected PVC
pipe from overhead tank to the lower opening at one
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International Conference on Global Trends in Engineering, Technology and Management (ICGTETM-2016)
side which is connected to the inlet of the solar panel.
Then outlet of the solar panel is connected to the
upper opening at one side and from the opposite side
upper opening provides the hot water for use. For all
these connection, we required. The hot water outlet is
connected to the top and before the top we have
connected long vertical pipe to maintain the air
bubble and pressure in the tank. The length of the
pipe is decided such that the top end of the pipe
always should be above the water level in the
overhead tank.
IV. Introduction to Collector Testing
The performance of solar heating systems depends
largely on the performance of the solar collectors
employed, and it is therefore particularly important
for researchers to know how well a collector will
perform. The measurement of collector efficiencies
has been shown to require specialized facilities and
careful experimental practices if it is to be performed
accurately. As a result to develop Standards in the
field of solar collector testing.
A solar collector is required to absorb solar radiation
and to transfer the absorbed energy into a heat
transfer fluid with a minimum of heat loss. In
assessing the performance of a collector it is
therefore important both to determine its ability to
absorb solar radiation and to characterise its heat
losses.
The ability of a collector to absorb solar radiation is
largely determined by the optical properties of its
cover and absorber surface. However, there are also
losses, which may be considered as input losses,
associated with the transfer of heat from the absorber
surface into the heat transfer fluid. These are
influenced by the design of the absorber fluid
passageways.
Standardized testing and rating procedure provides a
basis for comparing the efficiency of different type of
collector also it is basis for selection of a solar
collector for given application as well as their design
improvement. The main functions of collector testing
are
1. To get requisite data for predicting the
performance of solar collector system in
given meteorological condition.
2. To get requisite data to study and develop
the design of solar water heater collector
3. To compare performance of different design
solar collector for their better commercial
use
4. To get performance standard.
ISSN: 2231-5381
There are number of collector models appearing
in the market for improving the efficiency of solar
water heating system requires some unified approach
or testing method that will compare and determine
the performance of different solar water heating
collector models under given climatic and operating
conditions.
On any given day data is recorded under steady
state condition for fixed value of m and Ti. for each
set of fixed value number of test be conducted
symmetrically. The principle measurements made in
each data set are the fluid flow rate m, the fluid inlet
and outlet temperature of collector (Ti & To), the
solar radiation incident on the collector plane (G), the
ambient temperature Ta and wind speed V. The
efficiency of solar collector is given by
Collector Efficiency Collector panel efficiency is the
ratio between the rates of heat (Q) is transferred to a
fluid divided by solar radiation on the cover plate.
Description: Q = The energy absorbed by the
collector, (W/m2)
A = Area of the collector, (m2) , G = Total solar
radiation intensity (W/m2)
Tin & Tout = The temperature of the incoming &
outgoing water (0C)
V. Experimental analysis
In experimental analysis, we conduct experiment on
copper tube collector solar water heater and
aluminium pocket collector solar water heater.
Temperature readings for each individual are taken
for the time duration of 5 hrs. The temperature
obtained shown in below table.
Sr
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
Time
period
(Hrs)
10 am
11am
12 am
1 pm
2 pm
3 pm
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For Cu tube
collector(0C )
53
65
72
74
76
75
For Al pocket
collector(0C)
47
51
64
67
69
68
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International Conference on Global Trends in Engineering, Technology and Management (ICGTETM-2016)
payback period would be very less for solar water
heater in countries like India.
80
Temperature in 0 C
70
60
50
40
For Cu tube
collector
30
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Authors are thankful to
the SSBT`s, College of Engineering and Technology,
Bambhori, Jalgaon for providing library facility.
Authors also would like to thank the staff and
colleagues for useful discussions.
20
REFERENCES
10
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Time in Hr
Fig 6 Water outlet temperature Vs Time
Efficiency η
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
For Cu
tube…
0.0121 0.0176 0.0215 0.0199 0.0219 0.0212
(Tavg - Tatm)/I
Fig 7 Hottel - Whiller Bliss curve
VI. Conclusion
In Solar Water Heater system, copper tubes
are replaced by aluminium tubes in addition to
rectangular aluminium pocket. Owing to this
development total cost of solar water heater with
aluminium pocket is reduced to that of solar water
heater with Copper tubes. Temperature of water
obtained at outlet of a new collector is about 690 C
and efficiency of the collector is 35.47% as compared
to that of conventional collector efficiency is around
40.05%. Hot water requirement for domestic as well
as commercial purposes is fulfilled up to satisfaction
level at nearly thrice less cost than copper tube solar
water heaters available. In future this work would be
helpful to design various types of solar water heater
economically. Also it is easier to manufacture and its
ISSN: 2231-5381
[1] H. P. Garg, J Prakash Solar Energy Fundamental
and Application First Revised Edition, Tata McGrawHill.
[2] S. P. Sukhatme, J. K. Nayak Solar Energy
Principle of Thermal Collection and Storage third
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[3] Dr. D S Deshmukh, Mr. M.V.Raolani and Mr.
M.V. Kulkarni, “Design Considerations for Solar
Water Heating System Techniques: A Critical
Review” organized by Shram Sadhana Bombay
Trust’s College of Engineering & Technology,
Bambhori, Jalgaon,.International Conference on
Advances in Energy Technology on March29, 2013.
[4] Mahesh V. Kulkarni, Dr. Dheeraj S. Deshmukh
and Dipak C. Talele, “Solar Water Heater Collector
Testing Methodology” at International Conference on
Sustainable Development 2014,
organized by
S.S.B.T.’s, College of Engineering & Technology,
Bambhori, Jalgaon, on dated 25th- 26th February
2014
[5] Mr. M.V. Kulkarni, and Dr. D.S. Deshmukh,
“Improving Efficiency of Solar Water Heater Using
Phase Change Materials” in Pratibha: International
Journal of Science, Spirituality, Business and
Technology (IJSSBT), ISSN (Print) 2277-7261 and
ISSN (on-line):2278-3857, Page No. 39- 44, Volume
3, No.1, Dec., 2014.
[6] M.V. Kulkarni, Dr. D.S. Deshmukh published a
research paper entitled - Design of Experiment for
Solar Water Heater Performance Analysis‖ in
Pratibha: International Journal of Science,
Spirituality, Business and Technology (IJSSBT),
ISSN (Print) 2277-7261 and ISSN (on-line):22783857, Page No. 55- 60, Volume 3, No.2, June
[7]
Shuhong Li,*, Yongxin Zhang, Kai Zhang,
Xianliang Li, Yang Li, Xiaosong Zhang Study on
performance of storage tanks in solar water heater
system in charge and discharge progress Energy
Procedia 48 ( 2014 ) 384 – 393
[8] Wenfeng Gao, Tao Liu, Wenxian Lin, Chuanxu
Luo Numerical Study on Mixing Characteristics of
hot Water inside the Storage Tank of a Solar System
with Different Inlet Velocities of the Supply Cold
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International Conference on Global Trends in Engineering, Technology and Management (ICGTETM-2016)
Water Procedia Environmental Sciences 11 (2011)
1153 – 1163
[9] Yoram L. Shabtay, John R.H. Black Compact hot
water storage systems combining copper tube with
high conductivity graphite and phase change
materials SHC 2013, International Conference on
Solar Heating and Cooling for Buildings and Industry
September 23-25, 2013, Freiburg, Germany
[10] Sharma A, Tyagi VV, Chen CR, Buddhi D,
Review of Thermal Energy Storage with Phase
Change Materials and Applications, Renewable and
Sustainable Energy Reviews 2009; 13:318 – 345.
ISSN: 2231-5381
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