Thermal Analysis of Unglazed Transpired Solar Collectors

Abstract

Unglazed transpired solar collectors (UTSCs) preheat makeup ventilation air for buildings, thereby reducing energy used for heating. The performance of the UTSC is dependent on the heat loss from the absorber plate, which is strongly affected by the wind speed. To date, correlations to determine UTSC heat loss are limited to flat or sinusoidal plate corrugations. In reality, trapezoidal corrugations have been added to UTSCs to provide them with structural stiffness. These corrugations prevent the attachment of the flow to the absorber plate and cause flow separation which increases the heat loss.

In this study, a numerical simulation of a UTSC with trapezoidal shape corrugation has been performed to investigate the heat loss in the developing region due to wind on the UTSCs. It has been found that heat loss from new configuration is up to three times greater than the heat loss from a perforated flat absorber plate. A correlation of heat loss due to the wind speed and suction velocity was developed.

This study also includes an evaluation of the effectiveness in the asymptotic region. In this case, wind speed had no effect. A correlation was derived in terms of suction velocity.