CFD and Thermal Analysis of the Flat Plate Collector—Solar Water Heater Under Steady-State Conditions

This project involves the study of the outlet water temperature, Nusselt number, heat transfer coefficient and efficiency of a flat plate collector–solar water heater having a straight riser and header set-up. Records of mass flow rate were maintained and its effects on the outlet temperature of the water and the thermal efficiency were observed. ANSYS Fluent was employed for predicting the Nusselt number, heat transfer coefficient, outlet temperature of water and efficiency using the experimental values of solar radiation, ambient temperature and the temperature of the water at the inlet. It was found that the thermal efficiency of the solar water heater increases with mass flow rate of water to achieve a long and stabilized efficiency curve. Nusselt number shows gradual increase with the increasing mass flow rate. The results were validated by the experimental results obtained from the experimental set-up situated on the roof of Mechanical Engineering Department.