Conference Paper

Proceedings of ASim Conference 2012: 1st Asia conference of IBPSA-China, Japan, Korea

Study on the thermal performance of flat plate solar air collectors with dust deposition on the transparent covers

Jie Deng, Ming Yang, Xudong Yang, Pengsu Wang

Abstract: Transparent covers of solar air collectors, which are exposed to the ambient, are easily deposited by dust and ash in the atmosphere. Transmittances of transparent covers can be decreased by dust deposition surfaces and it directly results in poor thermal performances of solar air collectors. The present study analysed the effect of dust deposition on two types of single pass flat plat solar air collectors with smooth airflow channel and with rectangular fin structure. Based on the differential equations of thermal balance, transient thermal characteristics of the solar air collectors through a typical day were predicted by dynamic meteorological conditions. Optical properties of both clean transparent covers and dust deposition cover surfaces were considered in the numerical calculation. It was demonstrated that, calculated thermal efficiencies of the two types of collectors were in good accordance with the measured data when fouling ratio of 40% was considered in the calculation. Accordingly, daily averaged thermal efficiencies of the solar air collectors with smooth airflow channel and with rectangular fin structure were respectively decreased by 23.4% and 31.6% due to dust deposition of transparent covers.
Pages: 291 - 298
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