Optimization of the design of a polymer flat plate solar collector

This work presents numerical simulations aimed at optimizing the design of polymer flat plate solar collectors. Solar collectors’ absorbers are usually made of copper or aluminum and, although they offer good performance, they are consequently expensive. In comparison, using polymer can improve solar collectors economic competitiveness. In this paper, we propose a numerical study of a new design for a solar collector to assess the influence of the design parameters (air gap thickness, collector’s length) and of the operating conditions (mass flow rate, incident solar radiation, inlet temperature) on efficiency. This work outlines the main trends concerning the leading parameters impacting the polymer flat plate solar collector’s efficiency.

► We modeled a section of flat plate solar collector made of polymer. ► We evaluated numerically the influence of the design parameters on performance of polymer flat plate solar collector. ► We evaluated numerically the influence of the operating conditions on performance of polymer flat plate solar collector. ► We outlined the main trends concerning the main parameters impacting the polymer flat plate solar collector performance.