Development of a Flat Plate Solar Collector Design Program
Show full item record
File(s):
- Creator
-
Koo, Jae-Mo
- Publisher
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Citation
- Koo, J.M. (1999). Development of a Flat Plate Solar Collector Design Program. Master's Thesis, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- Date
- 1999
- Subject
-
Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1999.; University of Wisconsin--Madison. College of Engineering.; Dissertations Academic Mechanical Engineering.
- Abstract
- Flat-plate solar collectors have potential applications in HVAC system,
industrial thermal process, and solar engineering. Flat-plate collectors are the most
economical and popular in solar domestic heating water system since they are
permanently fixed in positions, have simple construction, and require little maintenance.
The design of a solar energy system is generally concerned with obtaining maximum
efficiency at minimum cost. The aim of this thesis is to develop a design tool for
predicting the performance of a flat-plate solar collector.
A very detailed thermal analysis of a flat-plate solar collector was carried out to
predict the thermal performance. The analysis is based on the established theory about
flat-plate solar collector: the radiation absorption, heat loss from the collector, and
temperature distribution on the plate. The calculation of useful energy and top heat loss
from the collector is based on the aperture area to make a more accurate prediction of
collector performance. The net-radiation method was employed to obtain the radiation
component of top heat loss from the general collector cover system. The correlation for
natural convection heat transfer between the covers and between the plate and cover
was selected with the consideration of the low conductivity of plastics. The semi-gray
radiation model was adopted to determine the optical properties of the collector cover
and absorber plate.
Results comparing the design tool calculations with experiments showed good
agreement. The collector tests were performed by Florida Solar Energy Center. The calculations based on the information from test reports yielded an accurate prediction of
the thermal performance of flat-plate solar collectors.
Based on the analysis, a flat-plate solar collector design program (CoDePro) has
been developed. The program is arranged so that detailed information about the
collector can be specified with an easy-to-use graphic interface. Compiled versions of
CoDePro have been distributed to solar engineers from its development level, and it has
been modified according to their suggestions. CoDePro has an ability to evaluate the
collector performance with high accuracy and can be used as a design tool for flat-plate
solar collectors.
- Description
- Under the supervision of Professors William Beckman and John Mitchell; 173pp.
- Permalink
-
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/7666
- Export
-
Export to RefWorks
Part of
Show full item record
