Thermal Efficiency of Solar Collector Made from Thermoplastics

Thermoplastics solar collectors have been used to replace a typical metal collector because their mechanical and physical properties make the volume production of lightweight, low cost and corrosion resistance. Effect of thermal conductivity and collector area was observed for four type of themoplastics based i.e PVC-B (PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride-Blue), PB (PB: Polybutene), PP-R (PP-R: Polypropylene Random Copolymer) and PVC-CB: (Polyvinyl Chloride-Carbon Black). The collector area of 2 m(2) were prepared as for solar collector. The position of collector panel to south orientation and angle of 14 degrees to the horizontal, which was the collector slope obtaining highest annual efficiency in Thailand, were implemented. Data was collected by data logger from 9.00-16.00 am throughout the day in which temperature reached a sufficient level according to standard test method of ASHRAE 93-77. The mass flow rate of water in collector was 0.02 (kg. s(-1)). The results of the differing thermal conductivity materials have indicated that there is no different of the materials on collector thermal efficiency. The collector efficiency was depends on the areas of the panel. This suggestion that one material should not only be chosen over another in term of its ability to transfer heat to the liquid within the panel but also collector area. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.