Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation and Experimental Study of Key Design Parameters of Solar Thermal Collectors

Abstract

Numerical simulation enables the optimization of a solar collector without the expense of building prototypes. This study details an approach using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to simulate the performance of a solar thermal collector. Inputs to the simulation include; heat loss coefficient, irradiance, and ambient temperature. A simulated thermal efficiency was validated using experimental results by comparing the calculated heat removal factor. The validated methodology was then applied to five different inlet configurations of a header–riser collector. The most efficient designs had uniform flow through the risers. The worst performing configurations had low flow rates in the risers that led to high surface temperatures and poor thermal efficiency. The calculated heat removal factor differed by between 4.2% for the serpentine model and 12.1% for the header–riser. The discrepancies were attributed to differences in thermal contact between plate and tubes in the simulated and actual design.

Higher Order Accurate Transient Numerical Model to Evaluate the Natural Convection Heat Transfer in Flat Plate Solar Collector

“…The following set of Non-Dimensional (ND) equations are derived using the dimensionless quantities stated in Equation (10).…”

“…To overcome the drawbacks of empirical correlations and lumped capacitance models, researchers have resorted to numerical methods to evaluate the heat transfer distribution of various heat transfer mechanisms in the FPSC. With the advent of numerical modelling techniques fueled by fast and powerful computers, researchers explored the possibility of modelling entire solar collectors numerically [8][9][10]. Recently, with the advances in the field of computational fluid dynamics, complete modelling of solar collectors has become possible [11][12][13].…”

CFD model-based analysis and experimental assessment of key design parameters for an integrated unglazed metallic thermal collector façade

“…The CFD approach with experimental validation has also been applied to concrete unglazed collectors [61], copper absorber glazed collectors [62] and aluminum absorbers for unglazed collectors [63]. CFD without experimental validation is also described for aluminum sandwich panels [64] and for unglazed solar collectors [65].…”