Abstract:

Solar Water Heating System (SWHS) utilizes solar energy to produce hot water for domestic and industrial needs. The absorber plate of the SWHS is the main part that functions to absorb solar energy. The thermal efficiency of SWHS can be improved by modifying the absorber plate to increase the absorption and thermal storage of the absorber plate. The absorber plate is modified by adding aluminium foam at the top and bottom of the flat-plate absorber. The absorber plate models are Standard Flat-Plate (SFP), SFP with Bottom Aluminium Foam (SFP-BAF), and SFP with Top Aluminium Foam (SFP-TAF). The experimental study was carried out for the three models under similar conditions using a Solar Thermal Energy Unit in the Renewable Energy Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering of Hasanuddin University. The effect of flowrate variations and slope angles were also investigated. This study shows an increased thermal efficiency of 10.21% of the absorber plate using bottom Aluminium Foam. Variation of flowrate and slope angles also shows the beneficial effect on thermal efficiency—for example, flowrate variations 12 L/h and slope angle 30o. The benefits of adding aluminium foam to the absorber plate can increase the absorption of radiant heat energy transmitted from the absorber plate, the storage time of thermal energy and the thermal efficiency of the collector.<

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