The study of the heat-engineering characteristics of a solar heat collector based on aluminum heat pipes

Abstract

This paper presents the results of studies into the heat-engineering characteristics of a flat heat solar collector based on aluminum heat pipes that is designed to be used in building facades. The principle of work and the structure of the solar collector are considered; the results of its comparison with a traditional flat solar collector are presented. The studies were performed at a heat carrier temperature range of +10–+30°C and at a solar heat flow density of 400–1000 W/m2. The obtained experimental heat-engineering characteristics of the collector based on heat pipes show that they are at a level of traditional flow solar collectors; for example, its efficiency is 0.65–0.73. Meanwhile, the hydraulic resistance of the structure with heat pipes is by a factor of 2–2.4 smaller and ensures a high level of scalability, reliability, and maintainability, which is important when using it as an element of facade constructions of solar heat systems.