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Experimental investigation on the performance of a flat plate solar collector using pulsating flow

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  • Sharafeldin, M.A.
  • Abdelghany, Mohamed T.

Abstract

Solar energy is one clean and sustainable energy source. It has drawn a lot of interest. Investigating pulsing flow in solar collectors was thus the goal of the current project. A pulsing flow was produced using a solenoid valve. Solar radiation, flow temperature, and flow rates were measured using a suite of monitoring equipment. The collector's thermal efficiency, area reduction, heat gain, and heat removal factor were all computed. Three frequencies were used: four, six, and 10 Hz. Three distinct flow rates were examined: 360, 420, and 480 L/h. The findings demonstrated that pulsating flow, as opposed to continuous flow, increases the heat gain and thermal efficiency of the flat plate solar collector. Lower frequencies are far more effective than higher ones. The thermal efficiency and heat gain of the collector are greatly impacted by higher flow rates. When the frequency is 4 Hz and the flow rate is 480 L/h, the maximum increase in maximum thermal efficiency is 22.8 %. The highest value for a lower frequency of 4 Hz with a higher flow rate of 480 L/h is 86.37. The area of the solar collector was decreased by at least 4 % and up to 26 % by using pulsating flow.

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  • Sharafeldin, M.A. & Abdelghany, Mohamed T., 2025. "Experimental investigation on the performance of a flat plate solar collector using pulsating flow," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:244:y:2025:i:c:s096014812500268x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.122606
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    References listed on IDEAS

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