Multi-thermal performance optimization of semi-circular heat pipes integrated with various solar collector profiles

Abstract

Solar collector (SC) technology has proved promising applications in heating, desalination, refrigeration of water, etc. Thermal performance (TP) of Heat Pipe (HP) improves by combining the various profiled absorber plate with a flat-plate collector. The objective is to study HP attributes' effect (heat inputs, pipe inclinations, and mass flow rates of water) with various profiles of absorber plates in a flat-plate SC on the TP. Semi-circular HP combining with the flat, V-grooved, and V-troughed absorber plates in a flat-plate collector improved TP. They are heat output, thermal resistance, and overall efficiency explored experimentally by adapting the response surface method's (RSM) central composite design. A major impacting applicant factor was heat input for improving TPs, and correlation models were generated from ANOVA. The optimal input attributes are obtained to minimize thermal resistance and maximize heat output and overall efficiency from RSM and desirability function. Confirmation test was conducted using optimal settings and their corresponding estimated values of the TP attributes to compare with the experimental results shown very close agreement between them established.