M. Corcoran and C. Gibbons

Energy Engineering Group, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Cork Institute of Technology, Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland.

ABSTRACT

A mathematical model was developed for a forced convection solar hot water system. The solar collector in this study incorporates a honeycombed extruded polycarbonate structure, for both the cover and water channels. The initial section of the program predicts solar radiation (hourly, monthly and yearly) as an input section to the solar collector calculations. As well as determining the collector performance, the model also facilitates changes to the collector physical properties such as dimensions of the channels, selective and non-selective absorbers, material thermal properties, as well as ambient temperature and flow rate, in order to optimise the system design. The results from the program will allow a full parametric study of different collector design criteria, with this polycarbonate structure. The results will be compared to a standard flat plate collector design, to see if this polycarbonate flat plate collector is a more effective design. ISO 9806-2 standards are being used to validate the results, for the parametric study in the lab, under steady state conditions. The final optimum design will then be tested outdoors using the quasi-dynamic conditions set out by the European Standard EN 12975-2. Weather data, obtained from the weather station set up at CIT, will be used as the input for the weather conditions for out door testing.

KEYWORDS: Thermal solar collectors, Open Loop system, Theoretical &

Experimental studies, Performance analysis.