Aspect ratio and spacing optimization of a solar flat-plate collector unit

Wei, Shengxian, Li, Ming, Ji, Xu, Lin, Wenxian, Zheng, Tufeng, Li, Guoliang, and Luo, Xi (2010) Aspect ratio and spacing optimization of a solar flat-plate collector unit. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering (CSAE), 26 (11). pp. 225-230.

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Abstract

To reduce shading-loss by sidewalls of a flat-plate collector unit, the mathematic model of mean effective heat-absorption area coefficient was built by using geometric optics. The variations of annual mean effective area coefficient with aspect ratio (AR), spacing, tilt angle, and latitude were analyzed using this model. The results show that the mean effective area coefficient decreases as the spacing increase; especially for larger AR. It is adverse to improve the mean effective area coefficient when the tilt angle is less than 15°or greater than 75°. For convenient applied in practice, critical spacing values are given with over 0.90 of annual mean effective area coefficient. In view of the reasonable spacing of 4–6 cm for smaller convective heat-loss, the reasonable AR≤2/1 and the maximum plate spacing of 5.8, 5.4, 4.7 and 4.2 cm are recommended for a collector unit used in 20°N, 30°N, 40°N and 50°N regions. The corresponding annual effective area coefficients are greater than 0.90. In the design stages of the flat-plate collector unit, the convective heat-loss and shading-loss can be minimized based on the results of this work.

Item ID: 17024
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1002-6819
Keywords: geometrical optics, solar collectors, aspect ratio, optimization, flat-plate collector unit, plate spacing
Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China
Date Deposited: 17 May 2011 00:19
FoR Codes: 09 ENGINEERING > 0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering > 091504 Fluidisation and Fluid Mechanics @ 50%
09 ENGINEERING > 0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering > 091505 Heat and Mass Transfer Operations @ 50%
SEO Codes: 85 ENERGY > 8505 Renewable Energy > 850506 Solar-Thermal Energy @ 100%
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