Flat plate collectors

Flat plate collectors

Shows the flat plate collector system. It mainly consists of following parts, namely

1.      Transparent cover plants

2.      Absorber plate

3.      Fluid tube

4.      Insulation

5.      Casing

The main function of transparent cover plates is to allow the sun radiation which falls on it. The absorber plates (collectors) which absorbs the maximum solar beam and diffused and get heated up. These plates are made in rectangular shape of about 1.7 to 2.9 Sq.m with copper, Aluminium (or) Steel and coated with black coke powder for obtaining high absorption and low emissivity.

The fluid tubes which are so designed as a integrated part of the flat plate collecter caseses the fluids which are passing through the tubes gets heated up. The total flat plates and fluid tubes are enclosed in a casing which is thermally insulated to prevent the loss of heat from the absorber and fluid.

Working: when the sun radiations falls on the transparent covers causes they allow to reach the absorber plates. The solar plates absorb these radiations and gets heated up which intern heats the fluid flowing through the tubes.

Advantages:

1.      The design of flat plate collectors is simple

2.      Its maintenance cost is low

3.      It has no moving parts

Applications:

Widely used in variety of applications in which temperatures ranging for 40⁰ C to 100⁰C.

1.      Water heating

2.      Space heating

3.      Space heating

4.      Drying.