An attempt is being paid in this paper to numerically analyze the solar thermal collector for better understanding of the heat transfer capabilities of the collector using water as well as water based Cu nanofluid. In the present work 2D and 3D models of the flat plate solar collector (FPSC) are taken into account. Finite Element method is used to solve governing equations with appropriate boundary conditions. Code validation of numerical study is shown in this article. Heat transfer and flow characteristics are presented in terms of the average heat transfer, mean velocity, collector efficiency and mean outlet temperature of fluids. Then various comparisons are shown to establish the importance of 3D numerical study instead of 2D study.

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