Tilt optimization of a double-glazed air solar collector prototype

Abstract

To understand usage of solar air collector there are factors that have influence on the performance. The goal of this paper is to investigate a solar air collector prototype in order to perform a performance optimization using the possible min imum of equations. The thermal efficiency, fluid outlet temperature, heat increase and heat losses of the collector are calculated depending on the collector geometry, fluid properties, fluid inlet temperature, air flow rate, solar insulation and ambient temperature. The calculations were performed using actual data of temperature, wind speed and the global-horizontal radiation Hh over the year 2011 at the international airport of Annaba city. Comparison of results reveals that optimal efficacy is obtained for south facing panels with an inclination angle ß comprised in the interval [15°, 35°]. These conditions provide a useful energy exceeding 4300 W and an efficiency of about 51 %.