Theoretical and experimental study of efficiency factor,heat transfer and thermal heat loss coefficients in solar air collectors with selective and nonselective absorbers

The thermal heat performance of a solar air collector depends strongly on the thermal heat loss and the efficiency factor. In order to increase these performances, it is necessary to use a solar air collector which is well insulated and where the fluid flow is fully developed turbulent flow. It needs a high heat transfer between the absorber plate and the fluid to decrease the absorber‐plate temperature and hence the heat loss by radiation from the absorber to the ambient. This increases the efficiency factor. In the present paper, the heat loss and efficiency factor are treated for solar air collectors with selective and nonselective absorber plate. It is shown that the selectivity of the absorber plate cannot play an important role in a well‐insulated solar collector with a fanned system which permits a fully developed turbulent flow and, in consequence, high heat transfer. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.