ASSIGNMENT 5

Question 1:

Givens:
 Material: Glass
 Number of covers: 3
 Thickness of each cover = 4 mm

 K = 15 m-1


Solution:

= 1.52,

= 0.0477

= 0.0388

= 0.773

=0.805

( ) = 0.789

⁄
= 0.833
= 0.6572

1
15 0.789 0.833 0.6572
30 0.783 0.826 0.6467
45 0.777 0.816 0.624
60 0.638 0.803 0.5123
75 0.4 0.792 0.3168
90 0 0.787 0

Variation of Transmissivities with angle of incidence

Tr Ta T

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5
trans

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
15 30 45 60 75 90
angle of incidence

2
Question 2:

Givens:
 =

 = 4 mm
 = 1.526
 , = 34.7

Solution:

. = .183

. = .00151

For M =3:

. = 0.41

=0.993

( ) =0 .7

⁄
. 0.8
. = 0.24

For M= 2:

. =0.527

. = 0.995

3
. ( ) =0.761

⁄
. = 0.865
.
For M= 1:

. =0.696

. =0.997

. ( ) =0.8465

⁄
. =0.934
. = 0.146

4
Question 3:

Givens:
 K= 15 m-1

 = 1.526

Solution:
For = :

For = :

. ,

. = 0.185

. = .00151

. =0.0932

5
Question 4:

Givens:





Solution:
For = :

= 0.846

For

= 0.185

= .00151

=0.0932

= 0.524

= 0.994

( )= 0.759 =

6
Flat Plate Solar Collectors
Description: A flat-plate collector is a large, shallow box—typically mounted on a roof—
that heats water using the sun’s energy.
A typical flat-plate collector is a metal box with a glass or plastic cover (called glazing)
on top and a dark-colored absorber plate on the bottom. The sides and bottom of the
collector are usually insulated to minimize heat loss.

Sunlight passes through the glazing and strikes the absorber plate, which heats
up, changing solar energy into heat energy. The heat is transferred to liquid
passing through pipes attached to the absorber plate. Absorber plates are
commonly painted with "selective coatings," which absorb and retain heat better
than ordinary black paint. Absorber plates are usually made of metal—typically
copper or aluminum—because the metal is a good heat conductor. Copper is
more expensive, but is a better conductor and less prone to corrosion than
aluminum. In locations with average available solar energy, flat plate collectors
are sized approximately one-half- to one-square foot per gallon of one-day's hot
water use.

Applications: The main use of this technology is in residential buildings where

the demand for hot water has a large impact on energy bills. This generally
means a situation with a large family, or a situation in which the hot water
demand is excessive due to frequent laundry washing.

Commercial applications include laundromats, car washes, military laundry

facilities and eating establishments. The technology can also be used for space
heating if the building is located off-grid or if utility power is subject to frequent
outages. Solar water heating systems are most likely to be cost effective for
facilities with water heating systems that are expensive to operate, or with

7
operations such as laundries or kitchens that require large quantities of hot
water.

unglazed liquid collectors are commonly used to heat water for swimming pools.
Because these collectors need not withstand high temperatures, they can use
less expensive materials such as plastic or rubber. They also do not require
freeze-proofing because swimming pools are generally used only in warm
weather or can be drained easily during cold weather.

While solar collectors are most cost-effective in sunny, temperate areas, they
can be cost effective virtually anywhere in the country so should be considered.

Performance/Costs: To compare performance ratings, look for a Solar Rating

& Certification Corporation (SRCC) or Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)
sticker on the equipment you are considering. Paybacks - (The amount of time
required - usually in years - for positive cash flows to equal the total investment costs.
This is often used to describe how long it will take for energy savings resulting from
using more energy-efficient equipment to equal the premium paid to purchase the more
energy-efficient equipment.) - vary widely, but for a well-designed and properly
installed solar water heater, you can expect a simple payback of 4 to 10 years,
depending on climate and utility costs. FSEC found that solar water heaters
offer potential savings, compared to electric water heating, of as much as 50%
to 85% in the water heating portion of the utility bill.

Flat plate water heating systems range in price from about $2,000 to $4,000
installed for residential systems (for 40 to 80 gallons per day usage), and
$2,000 to $50,000 for commercial systems (for 40 to 1700 gallons per day
usage). The following chart compares the percent of water heating energy that
solar can provide in various cities for a 48-square-foot flat plate solar hot water
system based on average water usage for four persons.

Availability: Flat plate solar water heating systems are available in most areas
of the United States and many other countries. FSEC currently lists 192 solar

8
collector panel models and 280 solar systems that they certify. They also
provide a list of manufacturers of flat plate collectors and systems. In addition,
six mail-order catalogs sell solar water heating systems.

References:
Material from: Washington State University Energy Program / WSUCEEP00-121
Credits: Diagram and geographic performance data from FEMP Solar Water Heating Technology Alert