Thermal Performance Optimization of Flat Plate Solar Collector using MATLAB

Authors

  • Isaac Ajunwa Department of Mechanical Engineering Ahmadu Bello University Zaria
  • Yawas D.S. Department of Mechanical Engineering Ahmadu Bello University Zaria
  • Kulla D.M. Department of Mechanical Engineering Ahmadu Bello University Zaria
  • Ibrahim Umar Ibrahim Department of Mechanical Engineering Ahmadu Bello University Zaria

Keywords:

Heat removal factor, coding system, parametric optimization, absorber plate thickness, computer program, MATLAB R2013b

Abstract

Solar flat plate collectors are one of the very important solar system components as they serve the purpose of heating up the ambient air/water for domestic and industrial uses like drying, cooking, thermal power generation, etc. It is therefore of significance that such flat plate collectors be appropriately designed for optimum performance and reliability at the point of usage. A solar flat plate collector needs to maximize its solar energy collection ability and have a good heat removal factor ability; which are achievable by properly configuring and sizing of its components. This research work presents the coding system for the parametric optimization study to determine the absorber plate thickness, back insulation thickness and tilt angle of a flat plate collector by using a written computer program in MATLAB R2013b base on appropriate equations and computed system parameters used for the research. From the study carried out, it was found that the heat removal factor does not respond significantly to changes in the absorber plate thickness. In order to maximize the heat removal factor, the absorber plate thickness of 1.5×10-5 m with a heat removal factor of 0.7454 was determined. The back-insulation thickness for the solar flat plate collector was found to be 0.0235 m using sawdust with thermal conductivity of 0.06 W/mK as the insulating material. The study also revealed that the amount of solar energy collected on a flat plate collector surface can be affected by the choice of the orientation of the flat plate collector. For maximum solar collection in the considered geographical location of Zaria, the tilt angle for the solar flat plate collector was found to be 200, tilted from the horizontal facing the south with 2.22×107 J/m2day-1 solar insolation collected on the flat plate collector.

 

References

Tiwari G.N., Tiwari A. and Shyam, 2016. Handbook of Solar Energy: Theory, Analysis and Applications, Springer: ISBN 978-981-10-0807-8. DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-0807-8

Sunil K.A., Satyshree G., Patil K.N., 2012. Solar Flat Plate Collector Analysis, IOSR Journal of Engineering (IOSRJEN), 2(2): 207-213.

Duffie J.A. and Beckman W.A., 2013. Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes, 4th Edition, John Wiley and Sons, New York.

Rosli M.A., Misha S., Sopian K., Mat S., Yusof S. and Salleh E., 2014. Parametric Analysis on Heat Removal Factor for a Flat Plate Solar Collector of Serpentine Tube, World Applied Sciences Journal, 29(2): 184-187.

Struckmann F., 2008. Analysis of a Flat-plate Solar Collector, Project Report on Heat and Mass Transport Lund, Sweden.

Rehman N.U. and Siddiqui M.A., 2012. Development of Simulation Tool for Finding Optimum Tilt Angles for Solar Collectors, Procs. of 45th IEP Convention’12.

Aboul-Enein S., El-Sebaii A.A., Ramadan M.R.I. and El-Gohary H.G., 2002. Parametric Study of a Solar Air Heater with and without Thermal Storage for Solar Drying Applications, Renew Energy, 21: 505–22.

Yeh H.M. and Lin T.T., 1995. The Effect of Collector Aspect Ratio on the Energy Collection Efficiency of Flat-plate Solar Air Heaters, Solar Energy, 20: 1041–7.

Lampert C.M., 1987. Advanced Optical Materials for Energy Efficiency and Solar Conversion, Solar and Wind Technology, 4(3): 347–379.

Ahmad N., 2001. Agricultural Solar Air Collector Made from Low Cost Plastic Packing Film, Renew Energy, 23: 663–671.

Tiwari G.N., 2002. Solar Energy: Fundamentals, Design, Modeling and Applications, Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi.

Hollands K.G.T., Unny T.E., Raithby G.D. and Konicek L., 1976. Free Convective Heat Transfer Across Inclined Air Layers, Journal of Heat Transfer, 98(2): 189-193.

Rajput R.K., 2006. Heat and Transfer S. Chand and Company New Delhi, India. 110055: 295-526.

Watmuff J.H., Charters W.W.S. and Proctor D.J., 1977. Solar and Wind Induced External Coefficients for Solar Collectors, Revue Internationale d’Heliotechnique, 2: 56.

Abubakar S., Umaru S., Kaisan M.U., Umar U.A., Ashok B. and Nanthagopal K., 2018. Development and Performance Comparison of Mixed-mode Solar Crop Dryers with and without Thermal Storage, Renewable Energy, 128: 285-298.

Bukola O.B. and Ayoola P.O., 2008. Performance Evaluation of a Mixed-mode Solar Dryer, Technical Report, AU J.T, 11(4): 225-231.

Reindl D.T., BeckmanW.A. and Duffie J.A., 1990. Evaluation of Hourly Tilted Surface Radiation Models, Solar Energy, 45(9): 9–17.

Young D.K., Kyaw T., Hitasha K.B., Charanjit S.B. and Kim C.N., 2012. Thermal Analysis and Performance Optimization of a Solar Hot Water Plant with Economic Evaluation, Solar Energy, 86(7): 1378–1395, http//: www.elsevier.com/locate/solener.

Hay J.E. and Davies J.A., 1980. Calculations of the Solar Radiation Incident on an Inclined Surface. In Hay J.E., Won T.K. (Eds.), Procs. of First Canadian Solar Radiation Data Workshop, 59, Ministry of Supply and Services, Canada.

Klucher, 1979. A Refinement of the Diffuse Sky Radiation, Solar Energy, 2(23): 93-184.

Cooper P.I., 1969. The Absorption of Radiation in Solar Stills, Solar Energy, 12(3): 333-346.

TRNSYS, 2007. Getting Started, Wisconsin Madison, USA: TRNSYS 16.1.

Kern J., and Harris I., 1975. On the Optimum Tilt of a Solar Collector, Solar Energy, 17(2): 97–102.

Qiu G., and Riffat S.B., 2003. Optimum Tilt Angle of Solar Collectors and Its Impact on Performance, International Journal of Ambient Energy, 24(1): 13-20.

Downloads

Published

2020-12-19

How to Cite

Ajunwa, I., D.S., Y., D.M., K., & Umar Ibrahim, I. (2020). Thermal Performance Optimization of Flat Plate Solar Collector using MATLAB. Jurnal Mekanikal, 43(2). Retrieved from https://jurnalmekanikal.utm.my/index.php/jurnalmekanikal/article/view/414

Issue

Section

Mechanical

Similar Articles

<< < 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.