Investigation of the efficiency of air heated solar collectors with different geometries by experimental method

Abstract

In this study, an experimental comparison of the thermal performances for four type of air-heated solar collectors was performed with different interior structures at various air velocities from 1 to 4 m/s within increments of 0.5 m/s. Collector with aluminum can, aluminum can-metal chip collector, aluminum can-paraffine collector, and baseline collector were used as air-heated solar collectors. According to the results, the average temperature difference in the aluminum can-metal chip solar collector was obtained as 54°C at 1.5 m/s, which is the highest average temperature difference among the collectors. For the solar collector with an aluminum can, the thermal efficiencies were 21% at 1 m/s and 31% at 1.5 m/s. The highest thermal efficiency was achieved as 53% at 4 m/s in the aluminum can-metal chip solar collector, while the aluminum can-paraffin solar collector reached the maximum value of 51% at 4 m/s.