Erbil polytechnical university

Erbil polytechnic
engineering college
Mechanical and energy
engineering department

Solar energy laboratory /3rd class

Experimental name: change in the flow rate

Experimental number: 1

Name: Nabaz Muhammad

Group: {D}

Objective:

> Familiarization with the design and operation of a simple solar therrhal system.
> To learn about how the system behaves when subjected to various flow rates in
the solar circuit.
> To learn effects of collector temperature, flow rate, inclination _ angle and the
"luminance.
> To examine how the temperature difference at the collector feed and return
flows can be influenced, as well as the effects on ' useful thermal output and
efficiency.
> Principles of absorption of solar radiation.
> Principles of heat losses in thermal solar collectors.
> Principles of heat transfer in solar collectors.
> Determining efficiencies and characteristic curves.

Introduction:
Energy & Environment Generation, conversion, transportation and the efficient
use of energy are partial steps of how the human works with energy. These steps
must be viewed in an integrated manner and in terms of sustainability. Many
studies and researches found solution for the energy efficiency.
Among renewable energies, the largest proportion currently is use is based
directly or indirectly on “solar energy. This includes as well wind energy and much
of hydroelectric power, which exist as a result of solar-driven climate processes.
Recently, the direct use of absorbed solar radiation has been gained increasing
importance in the renewable energy.
So with all energy-conversion processes, the efficiency achieved is crucial to
thermal energy.

Process description & diagram:

The light from the lighting unit enters the flat plate collector. This heats the
absorber in the flat collector. In the flat plate collector, there is a pipe that is part
of the solar circuit. A pump circulates the heat transfer fluid (water) in the solar
circuit. The absorber in the flat plate collector transfers the heat to the heat
transfer fluid. The heated heat transfer fluid leaves the flat collector and enters
the tank. In the tank, the pipe is designed as a spiral and thus functions as a heat
exchanger. This leads to the water in the tank heating up, and the heat transfer
fluid cooling down. The pump then. pumps the .cooled heat transfers fluid back
-to the flat plate__collector, creating a closed solar circuit.
A ventilator and an overflow are integrated in the solar circuit. The overflow
ensures that the heat transfer fluid volume expansion can be 'compensated.
Temperatures are measured by sensors (T1-T4) at all relevant points. A heater
can be used to 'shorten the heating times of the Water in'the'tank. This is useful
for example when measuring high temperature.

Radiation spectrum of the sun:

At the Centre of the Sun fusion processes lead to temperatures of up to
15000000k. However, the spectrum of emitted sunlight is based on processes ih
the outer layers of the Sun. The spectral composition can be described
theoretically by a so-called black body with a surface temperature of 5777K.

Procedure:
1. Check whether the primary circuit contains sufficient water if necessary, top
up using the solar circuit valve (filler valve) until the air bleed hose is half filled
with cooled water.
2. Open the water tank and check whether it contains sufficient water; top up if
the water level is not above the spiral pipe.
3. The duration of the working of device not more than 1.5 hours.
4. After switching on the unit, check all data displayed On the control cabinet.
5.  Started the illuminance and the circulating pump.
6. Set the volumetric flow rate is to 21 L/h. The collector surface is kept
horizontal and it is set at the middle elevation.
7. Start to take readingsfrom device when the value of collector return
flow'temperature T2 be steady state.
8. Once steady state is reached, take readings of_voi_ume flow rate (F), collector
flow and collector return flow temperatures (T1 and T2), Tank and ambient
temperatures (T3 and T4) and the illuminance (R).
9. Keeping orientation angle 9 at Zero, change the flow rate and repeat the
steps. Take measurements for different flow rate, such as 21, 15, 10, 5 and 1.
10. When the value of tank temperature T3 reached about 29°C it must be make
the device switched off.

Reading:
No. F(L/H) T1(℃) T2(℃) T3(℃) T4(℃) R(kW/m2)
1 21 23.7 27.1 21.5 20.8 1.4
2 15 23.9 29.4 22.9 21 1.4
3 10 24.3 33 23.8 21.1 1.4
4 5 24.5 44.5 24.8 21.3 1.4
5 1 25.4 75 25.7 21.4 1.4

Calculation:
At test one:
Acol = 0.1088 m2 cp = 4.18 kJ/kg.k , rho = 995 kg/m 3
Qin = R* Acol = 1.4*0.1088= 0.15232 kW
Qn = F*cp*⍴*(T2-T1)
= 0.000005833*995*4.18*(300.1-296.7)
= 0.08248 kW
Collector efficiency= (Qn/Qin) *100%
 =(0.08248/0.15232)*100% = 54.14 %

N0. Qin (kW) Qn (kW) Collector efficiency %

1 0.15232 0.08248 54.14

2 0.15232 0.09531 62.57

3 0.15232 0.1005 65.978

4 0.15232 0.11553 75.84

5 0.15232 0.0573 37.61

Discussion:
1. the relation in figure(1) between flow rate and temperature difference is
dramatically decrease.

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25

2. the relation in figure(2) between flow rate and thermal power is fluctuation.
Figure (1)
 0.14

0.12
Qn0.1
(kW)

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 5 10 15 20 25

flow rate(L/h)

Figure (2)

3. the relation in figure(3) between flow rate and collector efficiency is

fluctuation.

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25

flow rate(L/h)

4. the relation in figure(4) between flow rate and temperature tank is sudden
Figure (3)
drop.
 27

26

25

24

23

22

21

20

19
0 5 10 15 20 25

Figure (4)

5. In this test we work of solar energy, firstly the power input to the device,
secondly the valve of flow rate open, by the pump pushed to the collector, later
to the tank, the circulate continues. Finally the flow rate arrived at steady state
read the temperature. After calculate the efficiency and thermal power.
If we show in this calculation explained flow rate increase the other factor
decrease. If we wanted obtained the maximum efficiency and thermal power
(Qn) must be the flow rate small in this test between (1 – 5) L/h.