Overview/Background

Solar energy is the emerging energy source in the world, in which a total power
capacity of 178 giga-watt solar technology is installed globally (Shahan 2015). The
improvement in design such as radiant heating, low temperatures and integral storage of a
solar technology has improved its efficiency and until today, it is still developing for a
better technology. The solar technology has been evolving since then (Radiantec 2002). It
has become a promising option as an alternative energy source for its availability, everincreasing output efficiencies and can also be utilized in different variety of locations
(Devabhaktuni, et al. 2013).
Solar heating is a process in which the captured sunlight is converted into thermal
energy through the use of a solar thermal collector and it can be used for a variety of
purposes (Zipp 2013). Most common application of solar heating is the solar collector
technology. The solar collector captures the sunlight and converts it into heat energy.
Then the heat energy is used for water-heating or space-heating for residential or
commercial use. The use of solar water heating in residential areas and industry are still
very small, however it is capable of providing around 50%-60% of the yearly hot water
requirement in a residence (SEAI 2011). In the industry, heating needs in industrial
processes such as sterilizing, distillation, evaporation, hydrolyzing, polymerization,
cleaning, washing and other processes, which does not require a high temperature that
ranges below 100C to 250C, can be achieved with the use of solar thermal collectors.
One of these collectors is the flat plate collector (EESI 2011). This collector is the most
common collector for heating water and space. The device is a flat absorbing surface in
which the solar radiation is absorbed in it. This collector is very simple. It is easily

operated and easily assembled. It is less expensive and does not need high maintenance.
It is largely available in the market. With its simple parts, it is easier to fabricate (Estole,
et al. 2013).