Developing a MATLAB model for flat solar collectors

Abstract

At the University of Szeged Faculty of Engineering we design solar collectors since 2005. For the tests of our collectors and for other researches about collectors we designed a measuring equipment which is capable for measuring the efficiency as the function of the specific solar irradiation and the temperature difference between the collector and the ambient air. The temperature different between the collector and the ambient air in our system is well-controlled with the fan coil which transfers the heat from the collectors to the ambient air. With this construction we can change the temperature of the fluid at the intake of the collectors and simulating transient effects. By the data loggers we have registered the values every 5 seconds. The calculation of the instantaneous efficiency of solar collector is conditioned. Based on the results of the measurements the MATLAB model of the analysed solar collectors is developed. During the design of a flat solar collector with this model the function of the efficiency could be pre-calculated.