Low cost solar thermal flat-panel FYP (level 7)

Team: Lead
Mark McBride Javier Flores Giner Athlone Institute of Technology

Aim

to design and build a low cost solar thermal panel using as cheapest materials as possible.

Objectives

Research, and understand the principals of solar energy Build a model

Experimental testing
Compare cost value and efficiency

Solar Energy
Main energy source, except geothermal and nuclear Solar Radiation at atmosphere: 1373 W/m2 Relevant factors on thermal efficiency: Solar radiation Thermal conductivity of materials Optical properties of materials External factors of solar installation Angle inclination of solar collector

Material Selection
Absorber Plate - PVC Corrugated Sheet

Low Thermal Conductivity, But Very Thin Walls Cost Effective and Reasonably Easy to Find Cheap and Easily Worked With Can be coated to make Insulated and Weather Proof Easily Accessible and Cost Effective Low Thermal Conductivity, Average Insulating Capability Cheaper than Glass, but still creates Greenhouse Effect

Frame - Timber

Header Pipes - 1 Normal Gauge Water Pipe

Cover - Perspex

 Sealant - Many Tried

Roof and Tile Sealer o Heat Resistant, Water Resistant

Black Silicone o Heat Resistant, Water Resistant, Suitable for Plastic Surfaces
Epoxy Resin, Plastic Cement o Heat Resistant, Water Resistant, Suitable for Plastic Surfaces

Building Process
Absorber Plate and Water Fittings
1 Plastic Pipe (Screw

Header Pipes

Tighten) to 1 Female Thread, 1 to Hex Nipple, female thread with spout for garden hose

 Frame/Box

Pump and Pipe

Connections

 Collection Tank

Perspex Cover and

Insulation

Testing
Test 1 Open-loop Inclination: 75 Radiation Flux: 293 W/m2
Test 2 Closed-loop Inclination: 15 Radiation Flux: 183 W/m2

Test 1 [open-loop]
Radiation Flux: 293 W/m2 Efficiency vs temperature
40.00% 35.00% 30.00% 25.00%

Efficiency: 27 %

20.00%
15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% 13.2 16 14 12 Temperature 10 8 13.4 13.6 13.8 14 14.2 14.4

Efficiency Linear (Efficiency)

Water Inlet (T1)[C] Water outlet (T3) [C] Linear (Water Inlet (T1)[C]) Linear (Water outlet (T3) [C])

6
4 2 0 0 10 20 30 Time 40 50 60 70

Test 2 [closed-loop]
30 25 Temperature 20 15 10 5 0 Water Inlet (T1)[C] Water outlet (T3) [C] Linear (Water Inlet (T1)[C])

Linear (Water outlet (T3) [C])

10

20

30

40
Time

50

60

70

80

90

100

Efficiency vs Time
20.0% 18.0%

Radiation Flux: 183 W/m2

16.0%
14.0% 12.0% 10.0% 8.0% 6.0% 4.0% Efficiency Linear (Efficiency)

2.0%
0.0% 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Economics
Market Panel
A 1m2 panel with an

Project DIY Panel

Our 1m2 panel,

average annual output of 1083.33kWhs, and costing around 1500/m2. (This cost reduces as size increases.) This gives the panel a cost to output of 1/0.2W.

including manufacturing, and labour and installation estimates comes to about 580, and perhaps having an estimated annual output of 300kWhs. This gives the panel a cost to output of

Thank you for your time