Heat Transfer Analysis of a Flat-Plate Solar Air Collector

by Using an Artificial Neural Network

M. A. Hamdan 1; E. A. Abdelhafez 2; A. M. Hamdan 3; and R. A. Haj Khalil 4

Abstract: An artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed to study the heat transfer analysis in an unglazed flat-plate solar
collector with air passing behind the absorbing plate. The construction of the solar air collector included the absorber plate, the structural
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layer under the plate, the air channel, and the back insulation layer. The mean inside temperature at each surface of the solar collector and
the heat added to the airflow were estimated by a nonlinear autoregressive exogenous (NARX) model. The obtained results were verified
against the mathematical calculation that was used to find the aforementioned values by the optimization technique. It was found that the
NARX model may be used to estimate the mean inside temperature at each surface of the flat-plate collector with excellent accuracy with a
coefficient of determination of 0.99997. The advantages of the ANN model compared to the conventional testing methods are speed,
simplicity, and the capacity of the ANN to learn from examples. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000213. © 2014 American Society
of Civil Engineers.
Author keywords: Flat-plate; Solar air collector; Artificial neural network; Nonlinear autoregressive exogenous (NARX) model.

Introduction flowing through the collector (Tchinda 2009). These conversions

Many global problems associated with the utilization of fossil
fuels have appeared, such as the greenhouse effect, ozone layer
depletion, acid rain’s effects, and air pollution caused by road
vehicles and power stations, which have caused lung diseases.
In addition to limited quantities of fossil fuels and the fact that
it will be completely consumed in the near future, the relatively
high oil prices in last 3 years encouraged researchers, manufac-
turers, and governments to conduct or finance more investigations
on alternative energy resources and renewable energy resources.
Solar energy is considered one of the main promising alternative
sources of energy to replace the dependency on other fossil energy
resources (Banos et al. 2011).
Jordan is blessed with an abundance of solar energy, with an
average insulation intensity on a horizontal surface ranging
between 5–7 kW h=m2 , which is one of the highest in the world.
This corresponds to an annual total of 1,600–2,300 kW h=m2 , and
the annual average sunshine duration is more than 310 days=year
(Al-Salaymeh 2006).
The major component of any solar system is the flat-plate
solar collectors. This device absorbs the incoming solar radiation
and converts it into heat and also transfers this heat to a fluid
1 steady and transient states were analyzed under different operating
Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering / Air Conditioning and
Refrigeration Systems, Al-Zaytoonah Univ. of Jordan, 11733 Amman,
Jordan. E-mail: engineering@zuj.edu.jo
2
Lecturer, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering / Air Conditioning and
Refrigeration Systems, Al-Zaytoonah Univ. of Jordan, 11733 Amman,
Jordan (corresponding author). E-mail: eman.abdelHafez@zuj.edu.jo
3
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering / Air Condition-
ing and Refrigeration Systems, Al-Zaytoonah Univ. of Jordan, 11733
Amman, Jordan. E-mail: Amer.H@zuj.edu.jo
4
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Philadelphia
Univ., 19392 Amman, Jordan. E-mail: rhaj@philadelphia.edu.jo
Note. This manuscript was submitted on December 7, 2012; approved
on January 23, 2014; published online on March 10, 2014. Discussion per-
iod open until August 10, 2014; separate discussions must be submitted for
individual papers. This paper is part of the Journal of Infrastructure Sys-
tems, © ASCE, ISSN 1076-0342/A4014004(7)/$25.00.
depend on the absolute performances of many different materials,
such as glazing materials, collector absorbing plates, and used
fluids.
Grossman et al. (1977) developed a model for heat transfer in a
flat-plate solar collector with a rectangular channel for water or air-
flow. This two-dimensional (2D) geometry offers the maximum
area of contact between the fluid and the collecting surface exposed
to the sun. The analysis yields temperature and heat flow distribu-
tions in both dimensions of the collector. Thermal boundary layer
development is investigated. Overall efficiencies are calculated for
uniform solar heat influx with variable heat losses from the plate.
The thermosyphonic effect, attributable to natural convection, is
evaluated, and the collector’s geometry is optimized with respect
to this effect.
Norton et al. (2001) presented rigorous simulation models
that were identified as alternative techniques for the prediction
and characterization of the performance of natural circulation
solar energy water heaters. In the rigorous model, the coupled
energy and momentum equations that describe the transient behav-
ior of a natural-circulation solar-energy water heater are solved
numerically.
An intermediate complex collector model was proposed
(2D finite-difference method) by Cruz-Peragon et al. (2012). Both
conditions. Parameter identification was based on Newton’s
method optimization. For parameter approximation, exponential
regression functions through multivariate analysis of variance
were proposed, among many other alternatives. Results depicted
a robustness of the overall proposed method as a starting point
to optimize models applied to solar collectors.
The definitions of various relations that are required to deter-
mine the useful energy collected and the interaction of the various
constructional parameters on the performance of a solar collector
are fairly complex. To overcome this complexity, artificial neural
network (ANN) models have been developed to handle practical
problems. Several studies were performed on ANN modeling of
solar thermal systems in the literature (Kalogirou 2000, 2001,
2004a, b; Mellit et al. 2006; Sozen and Arcaklıoglu 2007), in which

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J. Infrastruct. Syst.
 the ANN technique was developed to determine the solar thermal In this study, the NARX studied the heat transfer analysis in an
system parameters. unglazed type of flat-plate solar collector with air passing behind
Sozen et al. (2008) developed a new formula based on ANN the absorbing plate. This model has exogenous inputs, which help it
technique to determine the efficiency of flat-plate solar collectors. to learn to predict one time series given past values of the same time
Meteorological data for Ankara were used as training data to train series. The external or exogenous time series is the feedback input
the neural network. Surface temperature in the collector, date, time,
solar radiation, declination angle, azimuth angle, and tilt angle were
used in the input layer of the network. The efficiency of the flat-
plate solar collector was in the output layer. The results show that
the maximum and minimum deviations were found as 2.558484
and 0.001969, respectively.
In this study, an artificial neural network model was developed
to study the heat transfer analysis in an unglazed flat-plate solar
collector with air passing behind the absorbing plate. The construc-
Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by New York University on 05/12/15. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.

tion of the solar air collector included the absorber plate, the struc-
tural layer under the plate, the air channel, and the back insulation
layer. The mean inside temperature at each surface of the solar
collector and the heat added to the airflow was estimated by a non-
linear autoregressive exogenous (NARX) model. The obtained
results were verified against the mathematical calculation, which
was used to find the aforementioned values by the optimization
technique.

Mathematical Model

The model used in this study is fully discussed in Fong et al.

(2010). In this section, only a brief summary will be presented
as shown in Fig. 1. The collector is made up of four layers:
1. The absorber plate;
2. The structural layer under the plate;
3. The air channel; and
4. The back insulation layer.
This model may be used to solve for T 1, T 2 , T 3 , T p , and Qadd
using the main energy equation as indicated in the flowchart shown
in Fig. 2. Alternatively, and because of mathematical complexity,
the aforementioned procedure may be replaced by the ANN
technique.

Artificial Neural Network

Artificial neural networks are commonly known as biologically in-
spired, highly sophisticated analytical techniques, being able to
model extremely complex nonlinear functions (Chena et al.
2012). In general, they are composed of three layers, which are
an input layer, some hidden layers, and an output layer (Caner et al.
2011). The advantages of the ANNs are speed, simplicity, and abil-
ity to train past data to provide the necessary predictions. Artificial
neural networks are used to solve complex functions in various
applications such as control, data compression, forecasting, optimi-
zation, pattern recognition, classification, speech, and vision
(Sozen et al. 2008).

Fig. 1. Construction and major simulation parameters of solar air

collector Fig. 2. Flowchart of the optimization technique

© ASCE A4014004-2 J. Infrastruct. Syst.

J. Infrastruct. Syst.
 mean inside surface temperature of collector back insulation T 2i ,
initial guess of mean collector back surface temperature T 3i , initial
guess of mean temperature of absorber plate T pi , and the total solar
radiation incident upon the collector top surface Gt ) are used in
training the NARX network, and five output variables (the mean
inside surface temperature of the structural layer under the absorber
plate T 1 , the mean inside surface temperature of collector back
insulation T 2 , the collector back surface temperature T 3 , the mean
temperature of absorber plate T p , and heat added to the airflow
stream by the collector Qadd ) are used.
Fig. 3. Typical neural network autoregressive with exogenous inputs
The purpose of constructing the NARX network is to replace the
mathematical model of the optimization technique as shown in
Fig. 3 by the ANN to estimate the mean temperatures of each
surface on the flat-plate solar collectors and the heat, which is
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and another time series in NARX. The NARX, with exogenous added to the airflow stream by the collector.
inputs, is suitable to model nonlinear systems and time series. The performance of the NARX model has been carried out using
The architecture of NARX is shown in Fig. 3. The defining equa- three global statistics: coefficient of determination (R2 ), root mean
tion for the NARX model is as follows: squared error (RMSE), and mean bias error (MBE). The RMSE
is a quadratic scoring rule that measures the average magnitude
yðtÞ ¼ f½yðt − 1Þ; yðt − 2Þ; : : : ; yðt − ny Þ; uðt − 2Þ; : : : ; uðt − nu Þ
of the error (Caner et al. 2011). The RMSE is given by Eq. (2),
where tj is the target value, oj is the output value, and p is the
ð1Þ
pattern (Sozen et al. 2008)
where the next value of the dependent output signal yðtÞ is re- sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
P ffi
ðt − o Þ2
gressed on previous values of the output signal and previous values j j j
RMSE ¼ ð2Þ
of an independent (exogenous) input signal (Moghaddamnia p
et al. 2009).
Three layers of the network structure are shown in Fig. 4. Five
input variables (initial guess of mean inside surface temperature of The coefficient of determination (R2 ) is a measure used in
the structural layer under the absorber plate T 1i , initial guess of statistical model analysis to assess how well a model explains
and predicts future outcomes, which is given by Eq. (3). The more
the value of R2 , the more accurate the model is
P
− oj Þ 2
j ðtj
R2 ¼ 1 − P ð3Þ
ðoj Þ2
j

The MBE is a measure of overall bias error or systematic

error. The less the value of MBE, the more accurate the model
is. The MBE is computed by the following expression:
P
j ðtj − oj Þ
MBE ¼ ð4Þ
p

Table 1. Training Parameters

Parameter Value
Epochs between displays 1
Maximum number of epochs to train 100
Maximum time to train in s inf
Performance goal 0
Maximum validation failures 6
Factor to use for memory/speed trade-off 1
Minimum gradient error 1 × 10 − 5

Table 2. Comparison of Performance of the NARX Model

RMSE MBE R
Training Validation Training Validation Training Validation
Fig. 4. Architecture of ANN used for this study 1.1872 1.0757 0.3152 0.3161 0.99997 0.999981

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J. Infrastruct. Syst.

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Fig. 5. Variation of gradient error and validation checks
The coefficient of determination (R2 ), the RMSE, and the
MBE from the aforementioned findings are represented in Table 1,
which represents the comparison of the performance of the three
models used in this study.
Fig. 6. Scatter plot of training, validation, test, and all data
© ASCE
J. Infrastruct. Syst.
Results and Discussions
The NARX network with neuron numbers (5, 20, and 5) was con-
structed and tested by MATLAB software. Total data consisting of
2,509 samples were obtained from the optimization technique
by using MATLAB software. The obtained samples were used
as the input to the NARX network. Of this data, 70% is used
for training, 15% is used for validation, and 15% is used for testing.
In this network, a resilient back propagation (Rprop) algorithm
function was used, and the number of the selected hidden layer
was 20. Hyperbolic tansig function was applied for the hidden
layer, and the linear transfer function was used in the output layer.
Training parameters used in Rprop algorithm are shown in Table 2
with their values.
The network was trained for 100 epochs with the Rprop func-
tion. The RMSE of the training period was 1.1872, and the RMSE
of the validation period was 1.0757.
Variation of the gradient error, the value of μ, and validation
checks at each epoch are shown in Fig. 5. As indicated in this fig-
ure, the gradient error is 3.0616, and the number of validation
checks are 0 at 100 epochs.
A scatter plot of training, validation, test, and experimental
data are shown in Fig. 6. As may be noticed in this figure, it
was found that the values of R in the training period, validation
period, and testing period are 0.99997, 0.99998, and 0.99996,
respectively.
A4014004-4 J. Infrastruct. Syst.
 38.35 38.5

38.3 Mathematical data 38.4

Estimated data Mathematical data
Estimated data
38.3
38.25
T1

T2
38.2
38.2
38.1

38.15
38

38.1 37.9
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0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
(a) Day (b) Day

25.85
38.6
25.845
38.55
25.84 Mathematical data Mathematical data
38.5 Estimated data
Estimated data
25.835
38.45
25.83
38.4
T3

Tp
25.825
38.35
25.82 38.3
25.815 38.25
25.81 38.2
25.805 38.15

25.8 38.1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
(c) Day (d) Day

540

520 Mathematical data

Estimated data
500

480
Qadd

460

440

420

400

380
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
(e) Day

Fig. 7. Comparison between ANN data and optimization technique for (a) average daily mean inside surface temperature of the structural layer
under the absorber plate distribution for the month of July 2008; (b) average daily mean inside surface temperature of collector back insulation
distribution for the month of July 2008; (c) average daily mean collector back surface temperature distribution for the month of July 2008; (d) average
daily mean temperature of absorber plate distribution for the month of July 2008; (e) average daily heat added to the airflow stream by the collector
distribution for the month of July 2008

Fig. 7 shows a comparison between the obtained and estimated
values of T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T p , and Qadd as indicated in these figures.
The agreement between the obtained and estimated values is very
good.
The differences between the obtained and estimated values of
T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T p , and Qadd are presented as a bar chart in Fig. 8.
As shown, the differences range between 0.005 and 0.078 for
the temperatures values, whereas the difference in Qadd ranges
between 1 and 44.
Table 2 shows the values of RMSE, MBE, and R for this model
during the validation and training periods. It may be noticed that
the value of the MBE during the training and validation period is

© ASCE A4014004-5 J. Infrastruct. Syst.

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 0.06 0.08

0.04 0.06

0.02 0.04

0.02
0
error

error
0
-0.02
-0.02
-0.04
-0.04

-0.06 -0.06

-0.08 -0.08
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
(a) Samples (b) Samples
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-3
x 10
4
0.08
3
0.06
2
0.04
1

0 0.02

error
error

-1
0

-2
-0.02
-3
-0.04
-4

-5 -0.06
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
(c) Samples (d) Samples

50

40

30

20

10
error

-10

-20

-30

-40

-50
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
(e) Samples

Fig. 8. Individual errors to NARX network for (a) mean inside surface temperature of the structural layer under the absorber plate; (b) mean
inside surface temperature of collector back insulation; (c) mean collector back surface temperature; (d) mean temperature of absorber plate; (e) heat
added to the airflow stream by the collector

rather close to zero. This indicates the ability of this model to The NARX model is of high accuracy to estimate the required
estimate the expected values. parameters compared with the conventional methods.

Conclusion Notation
In this study, ANN models using the Rprop learning algorithm The following symbols are used in this paper:
were successfully used to estimate the values of T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T p , hr;bk = linearized radiation heat transfer coefficient from the back
and Qadd . Such parameters are considered to be of high importance surface of the collector;
in the design of flat-plate collectors. This ANN technique may be hr;top = linearized radiation heat transfer coefficient from the top
used as a good alternative to the conventional optimization tech- surface of the collector;
nique because of its simplicity and less computational time it hr;1→2 = linearized radiation heat transfer coefficient from the top
requires. surface to the bottom surface of the air channel;

© ASCE A4014004-6 J. Infrastruct. Syst.

J. Infrastruct. Syst.
 Qabs =heat absorbed by the solar air collector;
Qadd =heat added to the airflow stream by the collector;
Qc;bk =convection heat loss from the back of the collector;
Qc;top =convection heat loss from the top of the collector;
Qr;bk =radiation heat loss from the back of the collector;
Qr;top =radiation heat loss from the top of the collector;
Ta =mean air temperature in the collector;
Tp =mean temperature of the absorber plate;
T1 =mean inside surface temperature of the structural layer
under the absorber plate;
T 2 = mean inside surface temperature of the collector back
insulation; and
T 3 = mean collector back surface temperature.
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