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Principles and Performance of Solar Energy Thermal Systems: A Web Course by

V.V.Satyamurty

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MODULE 12 Lecture No: 15

Solar Flat Plate Collectors
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Lecture 15
12.11 MEAN FLUID AND PLATE TEMPERATURE
12.12 COLLECTOR EFFICIENCY AND COLLECTOR PARAMETERS
12.13 TESTING PROCEDURE AND DETERMINATION OF COLLECTOR
PARAMETERS
12.14 SUMMARY

Lecture 15

12.11 MEAN FLUID AND PLATE TEMPERATURE

Mean fluid temperature is given by,

L
T f ,m  1 L  T f dy (12.49)
0

Using Eq.(12.37) and upon integrating, and substituting for FR from Eq.(12.40), Tf,m is given by,

T f , m  T f ,i 
Qu Ac
U L FR

1  F ''  (12.50)

Using the equations for Qu in terms of the mean plate temperature and inlet fluid temperature, T p ,m

the mean plate temperature is given by,

Qu Ac
T p , m  T f ,i  1  FR  (12.51)
U L FR

12.12 COLLECTOR EFFICIENCY AND COLLECTOR PARAMETERS

The absorbed energy (over a small time period) S in Eq.(12.42) is given by,

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S   I T   IR (12.43)

Using Eq.(12.43) in Eq.(12.42) and recognizing that IT is the input to the solar collector, efficiency

can be obtained from,

Qu FR    FRU L Ti  Ta 

  (12.44)
IT IT

From Eq.(12.44), it can be inferred that collector efficiency decreases linearly with the independent
parameter Ti  Ta  I T , provided the overall heat loss coefficient UL is constant, independent of the

temperature. Typical variation of efficiency with Ti  Ta  I T is shown in Fig.12.7. The points shown are
experimental. Within the approximation of treating UL as a constant, the straight line shown in Fig.12.7 has
an intercept of FR   on the ordinate and a slope of,  FRU L . Thus, from experimental points, the
collector parameters FR   and FRU L can be determined by fitting a best straight line to the experimental
points.   0 corresponds to,

FR    FRU L Ti  Ta  I T  0 (12.45)

FR(
1 Glass
 slope = FRU L
2 Glass

0
(Ti - Ta)/IT

Fig. 12.7 Collector efficiency and collector parameters

Solving Eq.(12.45) for IT and giving the term 'critical level of radiation', Ic, Ic is given by,

I T  for   0  I c  FRU L Ti  Ta  FR   (12.46)

From the value on the abscissa where the straight line in Fig.12.7 intersects, the critical level of
radiation can be determined for any given Ti  Ta  .

12.13 TESTING PROCEDURE AND DETERMINATION OF COLLECTOR

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PARAMETERS

Recommended experimental procedure is to conduct the experiment within half hour on either side of the
solar noon on collectors facing due south at a slope so as to make the angle of incidence, a minimum,
thereby, the   value will be very nearly the value at normal incidence,  n . Also, it is recommended

that the solar radiation intensity be above 600W/m2.

The experimental procedure involves measuring the inlet and outlet temperatures of the working fluid
along with its mass flow rate. Solar radiation (either instantaneous values measured at frequent
intervals or continuous recording to subsequently calculate the integrated energy over the time period) is
preferably measured directly on the plane of the collector with a pyranometer. If not, it is desirable that the
direct and diffuse or total components be measured and converted appropriately on to the plane of the
collector. However, this procedure leads to some uncertainities.
Useful energy gain can be calculated from,
 p To  Ti 
Qu  mC (12.47)
.
where m is the mass flow rate of the fluid through the collector, Ti and To are the fluid inlet and outlet
temperatures. If IT is the solar energy over a period of one hour in J/m2 , efficiency is given by,

  m C p To  Ti 3600 AC I T (12.48)

Cp is the specific heat of the fluid in J/kgC and m is expressed in kg/s.

12.14 SUMMARY

 Analysis for typical liquid solar flat plate collectors has been presented.

 The testing procedure for solar collectors described makes available methods to calculate the
two parameters FRUL and FR () that characterize the collector.
 The single most important equation describing the useful energy gain from a collector obtained
in terms of the two parameters is invariably employed in performance evaluation of solar
energy thermal systems, be it short term or long term.
 In evaluating the long term performance the equation useful energy gain (along with the
necessary equations to describe the remaining components in the solar energy ‘system’) is repeatedly
applied over short periods to obtain the performance over a day, month or an year.

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