Buoyancy-driven convective heat exchange in a trapezoidal-shaped solar collector/thermal store
Conference
·
OSTI ID:20030501
A simple, low-cost solar water heater has been proposed for operation in Mediterranean Europe, and regions with a similar latitude (40--45{degree} north). It takes the form of a trapezoidal-shaped water store in direct contact with an inclined flat-plate solar collector assembly. The trapezoidal cross-section induces thermal stratification in the water store, and provides sufficient energy storage to meet typical daily hot water demand. Its thermal performance is critically dependent on the waterside convective heat transfer coefficient on the backward-reclining collector plate. The results of a combined experimental and computational study of buoyancy-driven convective heat exchange within the water restore are reported. Comparisons are presented for the Nusselt number--Rayleigh number relation obtained from measurements, computations and earlier data correlations for buoyancy-driven convection. The required level of thermal stratification in the trapezoidal storage cavity was confirmed by both computations and measurements of the temperature field.
- Research Organization:
- Lusiada Univ., Famalicao (PT)
- OSTI ID:
- 20030501
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Convective heat transfer in louvered solar collectors
Natural convection and sidewall losses in trapezoidal groove collectors
Laminar natural convection flow in trapezoidal enclosures
Thesis/Dissertation
·
Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1981
·
OSTI ID:6761945
Natural convection and sidewall losses in trapezoidal groove collectors
Journal Article
·
Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981
· J. Sol. Energy Eng.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5747303
Laminar natural convection flow in trapezoidal enclosures
Journal Article
·
Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995
· Numerical Heat Transfer. Part A, Applications
·
OSTI ID:94115