Optimization of the heat exchanger in a flat plate indirect heating integrated collector storage solar water heating system

Abstract

Due to the environmental impact of energy usage, consumers need to be encouraged to use renewable energy sources such as solar energy. The indirect heating flat plate integrated collector storage solar water heating system is one of the compact systems for domestic water heating. It incorporates the collection of a solar energy component and a hot water storage component in one unit. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of different parameters on the thermal performance of this system with the aim of reducing both the initial and the running costs. The outlet service water temperature was used as a measure of performance, because it is an indicator of the energy acquired from the solar radiation. The continuity, momentum and energy equations of the fluids involved in the system were numerically solved in a steady state condition, using FLUENT software. Three-D CFD models were developed and validated using previous experimental results. A standard k-ω turbulent model was used in the optimization of the heat exchanger because it produced good agreement with the experimental results. The surface-to-surface radiation model was included. The effect of single and double row heat exchangers with different lengths was investigated. Circular and elliptic cross-section pipes were also examined. Mass flow rates of 500 and 650 L/h were chosen. The effect of the angel of collector was also examined. The results showed that the single row HX of 10.8 m length for both the elliptical and type B tube gave high service water outlet temperature (acceptable for heat exchanger design) and with low pumping power. This resulted in an increase in the thermal efficiency and a significant reduction in both the initial and the operating costs of the system.

Feasibility of Balcony Wall-Mounted Solar Water Heating System in High-Rise Residential Buildings

“…However, most scholars still focused on the RSWHS [3] [4] [5]. Other scholars shifting to BWSWHS are interested in their thermal performance [6] [7] [8] [9]. Compared with RSWHS, BWSWHS incurs additional purchase expenses and gains less solar.…”

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

“…Solar water heating using water as storage medium has been studied by Gertzos et al [7]. Various heat exchanger designs were investigated by Al-Khalifajy et al [8] and by Khalifa and Jabbar [9]. Solids like concrete and sand have good thermal storage qualities [10,11].…”

Optimization of Solar Water Heating System under Time and Spatial Partition Heating in Rural Dwellings

“…The research of system optimization mainly includes the unit design parameters of different types of collectors [7][8][9], water tanks [10][11][12], heat exchangers [13,14], and system operating parameters [15][16][17]. The operation control can be divided into solar collecting and heating systems according to the control objectives.…”