Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Elliptical Heat Pipe Flat Plate Solar Collector

Abstract

In the present study, the performance of an elliptical heat pipe solar collector has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. Solar flat plate collector, consists of transport tubes; but in a heat pipe solar collector, it is replaced by heat pipes and, it works as a heat exchanger in which evaporator and condenser section exist in same unit. The objective of the study is to find out the outlet temperatures of the heat pipe and condenser section and overall output condenser temperature, to find out the efficiency of the flat plate solar collector with this modification. Experimental and theoretical analysis of the effect of Lc /Le ratio of the heat pipe and different cooling water mass flow rates and different inlet cooling water temperature have been analyzed, and presented in this paper. Elliptical heat pipe with stainless steel wick has been fabricated and used as transport tubes in the collector. Copper tube has been used as working fluid of the heat pipe. These heat pipes were fixed to the absorber plate of the solar collector and the performance of elliptical heat pipe solar collector is studied and results were compared.