Flat Plate Solar Collector Characteristic with Shutter Glass Distance Variation and Collector Inclination Angle

Abstract

It has been done a research to determine the solar thermal collector efficiency of the flat plate collector. The testing of the collector was conducted on 30th November 2005, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th December 2005 with the variation of distance between one glass covers were varied from 3 cm, 6 cm, and 9 cm; and with inclination angle variation of collector from 10°, 20°, 30°, and 40°. Solar thermal collectors absorb the radiant energy from the sun and convert it to heat between the bottom glass cover and absorbing plates in the collector. Parameters which influence on the collector performance include distance between plate collector with glass covers and the inclination angle. It was found that the difference between output-input temperatures is the highest on a distance of 3 cm and inclination angle of 10°. This is influenced that inclination angle 10° more close to zenith angle. The solar thermal collector efficiency is not a constant; The solar collector efficiency depends on solar radiation intensity, input-output temperature difference and air flow. The smaller the inclination angle of solar collector, the higher the absorption radiation. If inclination angle of collector same with zenith angle, so the absorption radiation will maximum.