Investigation of the efficiency of air heated solar collectors with different geometries by experimental method

In this study, an experimental comparison of the thermal performances for four type of air-heated solar collectors was performed with different interior structures at various air velocities from 1 to 4 m/s within increments of 0.5 m/s. Collector with aluminum can, aluminum can-metal chip collector, aluminum can-paraffine collector, and baseline collector were used as air-heated solar collectors. According to the results, the average temperature difference in the aluminum can-metal chip solar collector was obtained as 54°C at 1.5 m/s, which is the highest average temperature difference among the collectors. For the solar collector with an aluminum can, the thermal efficiencies were 21% at 1 m/s and 31% at 1.5 m/s. The highest thermal efficiency was achieved as 53% at 4 m/s in the aluminum can-metal chip solar collector, while the aluminum can-paraffin solar collector reached the maximum value of 51% at 4 m/s.