Abstract
In Poland, various solar collector systems are used; among them, the most popular are flat plate collectors (FPCs) and evacuated tube collectors (ETCs). The work presents two installations located at a distance of 80 km apart, working in similar external conditions. One of them contains 120 flat plate collectors and works for the preparation of hot water in a swimming pool building; the second one consists of 32 evacuated tube collectors with a heat pipe and supports the preparation of domestic hot water for a multi-family house. During the comparison of the two quite large solar installations, it was confirmed that the use of evacuated tube solar collectors shows a much better solar energy productivity than flat plate collectors for the absorber area. Higher heat solar gains (by 7.9%) were also observed in the case of the gross collector area. The advantages of evacuated tube collectors are observed mainly during colder periods, which allows for a steadier thermal energy production.
Highlights
One of the biggest challenges facing humanity now is to provide the required amount of electricity and heat to society while respecting the environment, stopping the destruction of the ozone layer, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions [1]
The comparison of solar energy gains was conducted in terms of the gross collector area both installations
In Poland, solar thermal systems are mostly used for hot water preparation
Summary
One of the biggest challenges facing humanity now is to provide the required amount of electricity and heat to society while respecting the environment, stopping the destruction of the ozone layer, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions [1]. An investigation of the impact of flow on both the working fluid temperature and the collector efficiency was carried out by Diego-Ayala et al [32] They conducted thermal analysis of a solar flat plate water heater in a hot sub-humid region (Yucatan, Mexico). A solar water heating model was analyzed by Amoabeng [34] for the hospital of the Kwame Nakrumah Univeristy of Science and Technology In this assessment, two types of collectors were considered, a flat plate and an evacuated tube collector, in terms of thermal performance indicators and economic analysis. A performance comparison of flat plate and heat pipe evacuated tube collectors for a domestic water heating system in Dublin (Ireland weather conditions) was carried out by Ayompe et al [35]
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