Effect of sand as thermal damper integrated in flat plate water solar thermal collector

Abstract

An experimental study was carried out to evaluate the thermal performance of sand dune as storage material integrated in a flat solar thermal collector. The experimental apparatus is realized then installed on site. The parameter measured in this study is the temperature at different points of the collector. A graphic presentation shows the results obtained experimentally during the day of the test (winter period). The absorbing plate temperature reaches a maximum value of 97°C and the layer of sand of 25 mm can ensure a storage of 20 minutes with a damping of thermal fluctuations of 5.2°C. The amount of heat stored could replace the incident solar energy during the presence of clouds for 20 minutes.