FABRICATION OF AUTOMATIC SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM BASED

FLAT COLLECTOR
SYNOPSIS

Solar energy is becoming an alternative for the limited fossil fuel resources.

One of the simplest and most direct applications of this energy is the conversion of

solar radiation into heat, which can be used in water heating systems. A commonly

used solar collector is the flat-plate. A lot of research has been conducted in order

to analyze the flat-plate operation and improve its efficiency. The proposed model

simulates the complete solar collector system including the flat-plate and the

storage tank. Solar collectors need to be inclined at the optimum angle to maximize

the receiving energy. In spite of many theoretical and experimental investigations

on optimization of solar collector inclination, there is an inconsistency in presented

results. In the present work the angle of tilting the flat plate solar collector in

automatic way is based on the sun light direction in a continuous manner. The heat

transfer rate in different position for a period of morning to evening will be analyze

and compared with the fixed type flat collector.

BLOCK DIAGRAM

Mirror

Flat Collector

Controller
Board
DC Motors

Thermometer
DESIGN MODEL

WORKING

The proposed model has been designed with copper tubes having multiple

numbers of turns as shown in the above figure. Heat is transferred in the following

steps:

(1) First heat is transfer from the glass mirror to the absorber tube.

(2) After that heat is transfer from the absorber tube to the working fluid.

(3) Heat exchange between the glass jacket and the surrounding.

A prototype automatic flat collector will be placed in my house. Tracking

mode is such that it can track in all directions (Automatic Tracking) for hot water

generation. The concentrator has aperture area of 3.75 Square Feet, and the copper

tube has inner diameter is 4 mm, and outer diameter is 6 mm.