Project – Design and Fabrication of Solar Flat Plate Collector .

Guided By- Er. Arun singh

GROUP (G5)

Nitin (2100040409004)
Nikhil Chahar (2000040400017)
Satyendra Prajapati (2000040400021)
Shorya pratap singh (2000040400024)
 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Project Background

A Flat Plate Collector is another type of heat exchanger which converts the radiant
solar rays or energy from the sun (natural resources) into the heat energy using
greenhouse effect. As the rays directs over the plate, it gets hotter this heat is
conducted by the risers and absorbed heat is transferred to the working fluid flowing
inside the tube. Flat plate collectors are the best accessories to raise the temperature
of the water through a collector. A flat plat solar collector consists of the solar glass or
tempered glass, copper tubes, absorber plate, collecting area or collector, water pump
etc. As the heat directs over the tempered glass due to high radiant effects the rays are
imposed on to, absorber plate and water inside the collecting area gets heated and this
water can be used for domestic as well as automobile or any other aspects.
Flat plate collector systems are a very robust technology. With
no moving parts, the conversion of solar radiation to heat in a
working fluid can be very reliable with simple heat exchanger
technology and, essentially, plumbing. Some systems that are
configured at higher pressures than what is near ambient
pressure can be at risk for leaks at joints in and between the
system components due to the pressure difference and, in
general, system leaks are the most common mode of failure.
Performance and efficiency of various collectors, collector
types, and system types can impact capital and operating
costs that would be different in different locations based on
climate and the subsequent energy losses associated with
different technologies in different environments.
 Overview of Flat Plate Collectors

The flat-plate solar collectors are probably the most

fundamental and most studied technology for solar-
powered domestic hot water systems. The overall idea
behind this technology is pretty simple. The Sun heats a
dark flat surface, which collect as much energy as
possible, and then the energy is transferred to water, air,
or other fluid for further use.
 Components of a Typical Flat-Plate
Solar Collector
1) Glazing cover - a transparent layer that transmits
radiation to the absorber, but prevents radiative
and convective heat loss from the surface.
2) Black surface - absorbent of the incident solar
energy.
3) Tubes containing heating fluid to transfer the heat
from the collector.
4) Insulation covering sides and bottom of the
collector to reduce heat losses.
5) Support structure to protect the components and
hold them in place.
~

Schematic of a flat plate solar collector with liquid transport

medium.
Advantages of The Flat-Plat Collectors

• Easy to manufacture.
• Low cost
• Collect both beam and diffused radiation.
• Permanently fixed (no sophisticated positioning
or tracking equipment is required).
• Little maintenance.
 Transport Fluid Options
Water is one of the common options as liquid fluid due to its accessibility and
good thermal properties:

• It has a relatively high volumetric heat capacity.

• It is incompressible (or almost incompressible).

• It has a high mass density (which allows using small tubes and
pipes for transport)

~ [One disadvantage of water is that it freezes during winter, which can damage
the collector or piping system. Antifreeze mixtures can be used instead of pure
water to alleviate the above-said problems. The common antifreeze components
are ethylene glycol or propylene glycol. Those chemicals are mixed with water
require closed-loop systems and proper disposal due to toxicity. Nominal
antifreeze service like is about 5 years, after which it needs to be replaced.]
 MODIFICATION
• The results are presented of a theoretical study on the performance of a
flat-plate type solar collector in which a selectively transmitting
honeycomb panel is mounted between the absorbing flat plate and the
outer glass cover. An analytic study of the natural convection process in
such panels has shown that, under certain conditions, natural convection
losses can be suppressed. Further, the honeycomb significantly reduces
the radiation heat losses from the absorber. If the honeycomb cell walls
are sufficiently thin, heat losses by conduction directly through the
honeycomb wall material need not be important, and a high
transmittance to solar radiation can be achieved. Efficiency curves for
this type of collector are given and compared with those of a more
convectional design. Higher efficiencies in the plate-temperature range
are predicted. The importance of the honeycomb wall thickness in the
overall efficiency is pointed out.
 RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
• Solar collector is an important technology for the effective utilisation of solar
energy that the earth is blessed with. Flat plate solar collectors present a simple
and easy to maintain design and thus are widely used for low and medium
temperature applications. But being less efficient than alternatives, justifying the
initial investment of flat plate solar collectors becomes difficult in the long run.
This paper presents the efforts of researchers in the past some years to improve
the efficiency of flat plate solar collectors through the improvement and
optimization of the existing design. The range of research work covered gives a
general idea of the variety of techniques being developed, analysed and tested
to increase the efficiency of flat plate solar collector through means such as new
absorber design, design of absorber tubes, new coatings on glass cover, and
other means to reduce heat transfer losses, increase heat transfer from absorber
to working fluid and absorbing and retaining direct as well as diffuse radiation.
Design and efficiency improvement for better adoption of flat plate collectors in
building facades has also been discussed. This paper will be beneficial for
exploring the range of research avenues in the field of optimization and efficiency
improvement of flat plate solar collectors.
 APPLICATIONS
• Domestic water heating, such as shower,
kitchen washing.etc.
• Room heating, such as under floor and
radiator heating.
• Old heating equipment/system retrofit.
• Large scale commercial solar water
heating system, such as hotel, apartment,
school, hospital.etc.
• LITERATURE REVIEW

The results are presented of a theoretical study on the performance of a flat-plate type solar collector in which a selectively
transmitting honeycomb panel is mounted between the absorbing flat plate and the outer glass cover. An analytic study of the natural
convection process in such panels has shown that, under certain conditions, natural convection losses can be suppressed. Further, the
honeycomb significantly reduces the radiation heat losses from the absorber. If the honeycomb cell walls are sufficiently thin, heat
losses by conduction directly through the honeycomb wall material need not be important, and a high transmittance to solar radiation
can be achieved. Efficiency curves for this type of collector are given and compared with those of a more convectional design. Higher
efficiencies in the plate-temperature range are predicted. The importance of the honeycomb wall thickness in the overall efficiency is
pointed out.

 RESEARCH MERHODOLOGY
Solar collector is an important technology for the effective utilisation of solar energy that the earth is blessed with. Flat plate solar
collectors present a simple and easy to maintain design and thus are widely used for low and medium temperature applications. But
being less efficient than alternatives, justifying the initial investment of flat plate solar collectors becomes difficult in the long run. This
paper presents the efforts of researchers in the past some years to improve the efficiency of flat plate solar collectors through the
improvement and optimization of the existing design. The range of research work covered gives a general idea of the variety of
techniques being developed, analysed and tested to increase the efficiency of flat plate solar collector through means such as new
absorber design, design of absorber tubes, new coatings on glass cover, and other means to reduce heat transfer losses, increase heat
transfer from absorber to working fluid and absorbing and retaining direct as well as diffuse radiation. Design and efficiency
improvement for better adoption of flat plate collectors in building facades has also been discussed. This paper will be beneficial for
exploring the range of research avenues in the field of optimization and efficiency improvement of flat plate solar collectors.
  APPLICATIONS
1. Domestic water heating, such as shower, kitchen washing.etc.
2. Room heating, such as under floor and radiator heating.
3. Old heating equipment/system retrofit.
4. Large scale commercial solar water heating system, such as hotel, apartment, school, hospital.etc.

 FUTURE PRO
SPECTS
The growing integration of low carbon power generation technologies coupled with rising measures taken by national and international
organizations & administrations is set to favor the global flat plate solar collector growth. Solar is the leading system among the green
technologies that have witnessed huge investments from public & private companies and have demonstrated a significant untapped
potential. Furthermore, the flat-plate collector (FPC) method is an extension of the solar thermal energy technique that encompasses various
components to trap sun rays and generate energy for the final usage.
An FPC unit contains different systems such as absorber, glass, header pipe, back sheet, aluminum rails, risers, and insulation to deliver
reliable performance in different environmental conditions. A black surface absorbs the heat from the sun on the system, and the tubes are
then used to transfer the heat by utilizing a liquid or air heating fluid. While the insulation covering the body of the units largely helps to
reduce the overall heat losses.
.

Some of the key players actively functioning across the flat plate solar collector industry are Jiangsu Sunrain Solar
Energy Co., Ltd., GREENoneTEC Solarindustrie GmbH, Jinheng Solar Co.,Ltd, DIMAS SA, Guangdong Fivestar Solar
Energy Co.,Ltd., Bosch Commercial and Industrial UK, Solimpeks Solar Corp, Viessmann, Guangdong Sunte Solar Co.,
Ltd., Solahart Industries, Emmvee India, and Ariston Thermo Group.

The global flat plate solar collector market is categorized into North America, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East
and Africa, and Asia Pacific. Europe's flat plate solar collector market is projected to observe substantial increase owing
to the mounting demand for space heating systems coupled with encouraging policy framework by the European Union
(EU). Additionally, Asia Pacific is also likely to hold significant share due to the presence of various large and small
scale manufacturers along with vast untapped potential among nations. Growing expenditure on construction activities,
the existence of low-temperature areas, and awareness among customers, are some of the factors propelling the
expansion of North America.