DR.A.M.

SURENDRA KUMAR
1
10/30/2012
A Solar Collector is a device for collecting
solar Radiation & transfer the energy to a
fluid passing in contact with it.

These are general of two types.
a. Flat plate type (Non-concentrating type)
Solar collector.
a. Focusing Type (Concentrating type)
Solar Collector.
PHYSICAL PRINCIPLE OF CONVERSION OF

SOLAR RADIATION INTO HEAT
Most of the solar energy - Shortwave radiation
( Not to visible to human eye)
When this radiation strikes a solid /liquid, it is
absorbed and transformed into heat energy
The material becomes warm and stores the heat,
conducts it to surrounding material (Air or water)




FLAT PLATE COLLECTOR
A typical flat-plate collector is a metal box
with a glass or plastic cover (called glazing) on
top and a dark-colored absorber plate on the
bottom. The sides and bottom of the collector
are usually insulated to minimize heat loss.




Sunlight passes through the glazing and strikes the
absorber plate, which heats up, changing solar energy into
heat energy.
The heat is transferred to liquid passing through pipes
attached to the absorber plate.
Absorber plates are commonly painted with "selective
coatings," which absorb and retain heat better than
ordinary black paint.
Absorber plates are usually made of metal
typically copper or aluminium.
Because the metal is a good heat conductor.
Copper is more expensive, but is a better conductor and
less prone to corrosion than aluminium.
In locations with average available solar energy, flat plate
collectors are sized approximately 1 to 1 sq.foot /gallon
of one-day's hot water use.
Absorber is a black painted plate which absorbs incoming sunlight
When the temperature of the black plate increases, it s emits an
increment of thermal heat in the form of infra rd light.
The black absorber has the property of a black body.

Geometry of Solar Collectors


The gross surface area (collector area) is the product of the outside
dimensions, and defines for example the minimum amount of roof area that is
required for mounting.
The aperture area corresponds to the light entry area of the collector
that is the area through with the solar radiation passes to the collector
itself.
The absorber area (also called the effective collector area) corresponds to
the area of the actual absorber panel.
In flat plate collector
Collector area( the area that intercepts the solar radiation- ie.
top Glass area ) = absorber area( the area absorbing the
radiation)

In Concentrating type Collector :
Collector area = 100 times x Absorber area.

By means of Concentrating type collector high temperatures can
be obtained than the Flat type collector
Flat Plate Collector
Made of a black absorbing plate with
water running through it or air blowing
past it.
Usually a flat plate collector has a glazing
to stop heat from escaping.
Efficiency 50% or better.
Flat Plate Collector
Hot Water Heater
Solar water heater
system has four
components:
Collector
Tank
Pump
Controller
Flat Plate Collector
Flat Plate Collector
components:
Plate with tubing
Insulation
Glazing
Flat plate collector is used when about 90
0
C temperature is
required
Rectangular panels size - 1.7 m
2
to 2.9 m
2

Flat plate collector absorb both direct & diffuse solar radiation
Partially effective even on cloudy days when there is no direct
radiation.

Classification:
1. Liquid heating collectors
2. Solar air heaters.
1. Liquid heating
Flat type Collector



2. Solar air type
flat type collector


Classification of
Air type collector
1. non porous absorber air stream
does not flow through the absorber
plate.
Air may flow above or behind the
absorber plate
2. Porous type absorber -


Application of air heaters
It supply hot air which may be used
for
1. Heating the building
2. Drying agricultural produce
lumber
3. Heating green house
4. air conditioning buildings
Concentrating Collector
(Focusing type)
A concentrating collector includes
some kind of lens or mirror.
Tracks the sun.
High temperature.
Efficiency near 50%.

Concentrating Collector
Components:
Optics
Glazing
Absorber
Insulation
Tracking


Concentrating Collector
This one uses a
mirror and has no
glazing
Types of Concentrating collectors
1. Parabolic trough collector
2. Mirror strip reflector
3. Fresnel lens collector
4. Flat plate collector with
adjustable mirrors
5. Compound parabolic concentrator
1.PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTOR

Length of the reflector unit 3 to 5m
Width 1.5 to 2.4 m
Parabolic trough reflectors highly
polished aluminum of silvered glass or
thin film of aluminized plastic

B. MIRROR STRIP REFLECTOR

C. FRESNEL LENS COLLECTOR
(REFRACTING TYPE)

POINT FOCUSING COLLECTOR
(PARABOLIC TYPE)

CENTRAL RECEIVER TYPE

Advantages of concentrating type
Reflecting surfaces required less
material & structurally simpler than flat
type
The cost/unit area of solar collecting
surface is less than flat type
3. Insolation intensity is greater
Advantage of flat type
1. They have the advantage of using both beam &
diffuses solar radiation
2. They do not require orientation towards the sun
3. they require less maintenance
4. Mechanically simpler
COLLECTOR EFFICIENCY
RADIATION SOLAR MAX
GAIN USEFUL
=
C
n
( ) | |
b b
a fi L
C
R H
T T U S
=
R

F
n
F
R
= Heat removal factor for collector
H
b
= Solar radiation intensity
R
b
= Tilt factor =

( )
o o e o o
o o e o o
sin sin cos cos cos
sin ) sin( cos cos s - cos

+
+
=
s
R
b
S= solar energy received on the upper surface of the
slopping collector structure
is the fraction of incoming solar radiation reaching
the surfaces that is transmitted (Transmissivity)
is the fraction of incoming solar radiation reaching
the surfaces that is absorbed (Absorptivity )
T
f
= Fluid temperature
T
a
= Ambient temperature

to
b
R S
b
H =