Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

Objectives: The main objective was to computationally model various flat bed solar collector with various inlet and outlet designs with solidworks simulation to investigate the effects of change in diameter of the tubes on pressure drop and temperature differences. Methods: With use of solidworks 2012 software designing of seven different type of flat plate collector has been made as 1. Normal design in which flow run conditions of the normal water which been used is set at a temperature of 18.7 °C, the pressure conditions which is taken in whole of the CFD run of the experiment is taken as 22.4. The inlet flow rate condition for the diverge-3 design is maintained at 0.05 Kg/sec. 2. Converge-1 in which Flow run conditions of the normal water which been used is set at a temperature of 38.15 °C, the pressure condition which is taken in whole of the CFD run of the experiment is taken as 3.64. 3. Converge-2 in which Flow run conditions of the normal water which been used is set at a temperature of 37.82 ° C, the pressure condition which is taken in whole of the CFD run of the experiment is taken as 2.74 4. Converge-3 in which Flow run conditions of the normal water which been used is set at a temperature of 38.49 ° C, the pressure condition which is taken in whole of the CFD run of the experiment is taken as 3.35 5. Diverge-1 in which Flow run conditions of the normal water which been used is set at a temperature of 37.85 ° C, the pressure condition which is taken in whole of the CFD run of the experiment is taken as 4.49 6. Diverge-2 in which Flow run conditions of the normal water which been used is set at a temperature of 38.39 ° C, the pressure condition which is taken in whole of the CFD run of the experiment is taken as 3.67. 7. Diverge-3 in which Flow run conditions of the normal water which been used is set at a temperature of 38.41 ° C, the pressure condition which is taken in whole of the CFD run of the experiment is taken as 2.14. Where the inlet flow rate condition for the diverge-3 design is maintained at 0.05 Kg/sec same for all designs. Findings: All the designs are used to establish the input parameters with analyzing of performance of (FPC) Flat Plate Collector. In the CFD analysis findings the maximum temperature rise up has been found in converging 3 design in which Flow run conditions of the normal water which been used is set at a temperature of 38.49 ° C, the pressure condition which is taken in whole of the CFD run of the experiment is taken as 3.35 and effective minimum pressure drop has been found in the diverging 3 type of design in which Flow run conditions of the normal water which been used is set at a temperature of 38.41 ° C, the pressure condition which is taken in whole of the CFD run of the experiment is taken as 2.14. Where the inlet flow rate condition for the diverge-3 design is maintained at 0.05 Kg/sec same for all designs. Important thing was that if the mass flow rate increases, corresponding temperature decreases. Material properties also play an important role in the performance of solar flat bed collector. Further improvements can be made by designing more complex designs for CFD analysis so that a better efficient FPC can be made. Application: All of design conditions in solidworks simulation are developed to make a effective flat plate collector in which maximum heat may be stored and large temperature conditions on the outlet may be achieved. More designs of different shapes may also be developed in other design softwares also. Applications of these effective designs after their fabrication may be in domestic water heating purposes and in large industrial facilities where large temperature conditions of water may be required.
Keywords: CFD, FPC (Flat Plate Collector), Solidworks