Thermal Performance Solar Flat Plate Collector and Influence of Flow Pipe Design

Abstract

Flat plate collectors are commonly utilized in both domestic and industrial applications to minimize energy consumption. In this study, solar flat plate collector (SFPC)) with corrugated flow pipe with ten turns placed over flat absorber plate and covered with single glass layer was fabricated and tested, in Al-Mussiab city, Babylon, Iraq (latitude 32.5◦N and longitude 44.3◦E). This research presents the effect flow pipe shape about the SFPC's thermal performance. The designed solar collector utilized employing of 12.5 mm-diameter corrugated copper tubing that extended 19500 mm in total length. According to different rates of water flow namely (50, 100, and 150 L/h). The results indicated that the working fluid's greatest temperature differential between the inlet and outlet of solar collector (12.9°C) at volumetric flow rate (50 L/h). The maximum thermal efficiency (Ƞth) rate of solar flat plate collector was (77%) at (150 L/ h). These results encourage the development of solar collector system and eventually help the sustainable use of solar power in home applications, including solar water heating system.