Theoretical Analysis Report

Group 41D


William Tierney
Elliot Kendall
Nathan Dewey



Problem Definition:

A solar water heating system in the form of a flat plate collector is to be designed and studied.
The effect of volumetric flow rate of the water on change in temperature of water is of specific
concern. The water will re-circulate through the system until a predetermined change in
temperature is reached, preferably when the water reaches a minimum of 90% of the
temperature of the air in the collector box, assuming that this is the maximum temperature it
can reach. Using knowledge of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer,
theoretically analyze the stated system.

Abstract:

The basic proposed dimensions and configuration that will be used to theoretically analyze this
system can be seen in Figure 1. The general relationship between inlet, outlet, and air
temperature that is expected can be seen in Figure 2. Flexible copper tubing of inch in
diameter was used for the piping. The box containing the tubing will be made out of wood, and
the reservoir will likely be a cooler of some sort. Three unique volumetric flow rates ranging
from approximately 0.2 gpm to 0.3 gpm were used to get an idea of the effect they will have on
change in temperature.



Figure 1: General Flat Plate Collector Design



Figure 2: Expected Relationship Between Time and Temperature

Assumptions:

1. Constant and
2. Laminar flow
3. Perfectly insulated bottom and sides
4. Incompressible, fully developed flow
5. Constant heat flux along the pipe
6. Free convection inside and outside of collector
7. Pipe and base act as black bodies
8. Uniform air temperature inside collector



0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Temperature vs Time
Time (s)
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e

(
c
e
l
s
i
u
s
)
Tout
Tin
T
Tair
Governing Equations:

Head Loss Formulas:

Eqn. 1. Apply assumptions 1, 2, and 4:



+ =
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ +
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ +
m
h h gz
V P
gz
V P
2
2
2 2
1
2
1
1
1
2 2
o

Eqn. 2. Apply assumption 1:

VD
= Re

Eqn. 3. Apply assumption 1 and 2:


Re
64
= f

Eqn. 4. Apply assumption 1 and 2:

2
2
V
D
L
f h =

Eqn. 5. Apply assumption 1 and 2:

d
Le
f K =

Eqn. 6. Apply assumption 1 and 2:

2
2
V
K h
m
=

Heat Transfer Formulas:


Figure 3: Heat Transfer Model

Eqn. 7. Apply assumptions 1 and 3:

Qrad = Qconv1 = Qconv2 + Q1

Eqn. 8. Qconv2 = Qrad2 - Q1
Eqn. 9. Apply assumption 5:

Figure 4: Top of Solar Collector
Eqn. 10

Eqn. 11.

Eqn. 12. Apply assumption 6:

Eqn. 13.

Eqn. 14. Inner Surface:

Eqn. 15. Outer Surface:

Calculations:
Microsoft Excel was used to evaluate all of the above equations. The analysis done relating to
fluid mechanics, most importantly sizing the pump, can be seen in Table 1. Assumption 2 was
confirmed when Reynolds numbers were all calculated to be less than 2300. Table 2 shows
calculations that determine the convective heat transfer coefficients for the inner and outer
surfaces of the collector cover. These values dictate how much heat will escape through the
collector cover. Table 3 utilizes the heat transfer rate found in Table 2 to calculate the change
in water temperature as it passes through the collector at a range of flow rates.


Variables/Inputs:
V (m/s) 0.250 0.300 0.350
Q (m
3
/s) 1.26E-05 1.51E-05 1.76E-05
Q (gpm) 1.99E-01 2.39E-01 2.79E-01
m (kg/s) 1.26E-02 1.51E-02 1.76E-02
L (m) 8.000 8.000 8.000
z (m) 0.000 0.000 0.000
DIA (m) 0.008 0.008 0.008
Le/D 60 60 60
1000 1000 1000
1.76E-03 1.76E-03 1.76E-03
Calculations/Outputs:

Re 1.14E+03 1.36E+03 1.59E+03
f 5.63E-02 4.69E-02 4.02E-02
hl 1.76 2.112 2.464
K 3.379 2.816 2.414
hlm (psi) 0.106 0.127 0.148
hlT (psi) 1.866 2.239 2.612
p (psi) 0.307 0.368 0.430
p (ft of head) 0.707 0.848 0.990
Table 1: Pump Calculations


Top Surface
Inside Outside
Beta i = 0.003030303 Beta o = 0.003333333
Alpha i (m^2/s) = 0.000026 nu o (m^2/s) = 0.00001589
nu i (m^2/s) = 0.000017 Alpha o (m^2/)s = 0.0000225
Ts1 (K) = 305 Ts2 (K) = 315
To (K) = 300 Ti (K) = 330
Ral(Inner) = 1857665276 Ral(Outer) = 619221758.8
Nul(Inner) = 184.3941251 Nul(Outer) = 127.8517456
h2 (w/m^2*k) = 55.31823754 h1 (w/m^2*k) = 38.35552368
General Values

A (m^2) = 0.74322432

Total Resistance and Heat Transfer Through
Collector Cover
t (m)= 0.02

Rtot = 0.19395098
g (m/s^2) = 9.8

Q1 = 114.9606444
Lc = 0.666666667
K (w/mk) = 0.2

Table 2: Heat Transfer Calculations

Total Heat Transfer to Pipe
qrad1 (W/m^2)= 170
Cp(Kj/Kgk)= 4.187
Do (m) = 0.009525
Di (m)= 0.008
P (m)= 0.02992367
L (m)= 8
absorption area 0.66702432

Change in Water Temperature
Mass flow rate (kg/s)= 0.0125538 0.0150646 0.017575
Enter water temp. (C)= 0 0 0
Leaving water temp. (C)= 6.93265652 5.77720027 4.95198925
Table 3: Heat Transfer Calculations Continued

Discussion:

As expected, change in temperature has an inverse relationship with volumetric flow rate. The
greater the flow rate, the less heat absorbed by water flowing through the solar collector, and
thus the longer it will take to reach the desired temperature. It can be seen in Table 3 that a
change from 0.199 gpm to 0.279 gpm significantly effects the change in temperature after one
pass through the solar collector, decreasing it from nearly 7C to only 5C.