Computer Simulation Results for Planar Reflectors and Flat Plate Solar Collectors

Abstract

The benefits attributed to reflectors for increasing performance of flat plate collectors vary quite widely in the literature. In the present study, a detailed computer simulation is carried out to investigate the increase in performance. The results show that: Collectors should be placed at a higher tilt angle than usual; reflectors placed in front of the collectors can be tilted up 5 or 10 deg; and performance has a broad peak with respect to tilt angle. The system performance enhancement in Salt Lake City, Utah ranges from 1.16 for domestic hot water to 1.28 for space heating for equal reflector-collector areas, and the break even ratio of per area reflector to collector cost is from 16 to 28 percent for these systems.