Laboratory analysis of a flat-plate solar thermal collector

Abstract

This project has been focused in the solar thermal collectors in flat-plate collectors. The price of the electricity and fuels has been rising in the few last years and it this will continue to happen. For example, the electricity price increased by 17% in Ireland or by 56% in Spain since 2005 (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland , 2013). The electricity or fuel needed to obtain hot water is relatively big so it is a good idea to use the solar water heating systems to effectively obtain “free” hot water. The project consists in the analysis of the efficiency of the solar flat-plate panel in different conditions. To do it, an auxiliary system simulating a real circuit used in homes had been built. It consists of two different circuits, the first one will be heated by the solar thermal collector and the second one will be supply this heat to a copper cylinder which will heat the water inside. During the course of the project different elements of flat-plate solar collectors will be studied. In the Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering and Renewable Energy, Year 3 ii literature review about this topic, the efficiency, the temperature in the different parts of the circuit and the time needed for the tank arrive to the required temperature will be obtained for the flat-plate collector and the results will be collected and analyzed.