Natural convection characteristics of flat plate collectors. Progress report

Author: Randall, K. R.
Published: United States : [publisher not identified], 1977.
[Oak Ridge, Tennessee] : [U.S. Atomic Energy Commission], 1977.
Physical Description: microfiche : negative ; 11 x 15 cm
Additional Creators: Mitchell, J. W. and Wl-Wakil, M. M.

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Summary

The results of an experimental investigation into the convective heat losses in large aspect ratio flat-plate solar collectors are described. An experimental study has been undertaken on a specially designed test cell using a 3 inch Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Air at atmospheric pressure was used as the heat-transfer fluid. The experimental results include interferograms which show the thermal boundary layer formations and the temperature profiles. Local temperature profiles have been analyzed through the use of an optical comparator to determine local Nusselt number profiles, which have, in turn, been integrated to give average heat-transfer results. Angles of inclination from the horizontal of 45, 60, 75 and 90 degrees have been investigated. Aspect ratios from 9 to 36 were examined over a Rayleigh number range of 4,000 to 310,000. Finally, heat-transfer correlations have been developed for the prediction of local Nusselt numbers in the starting and departure corners and for the average heat-transfer results as a function of collector tilt angle.

Report Numbers

COO/2971-1

Other Subject(s)

Collection

U.S. Atomic Energy Commission depository collection.

Note

DOE contract number: EY-76-S-02-2971
OSTI Identifier 5313804
Research organization: Wisconsin Univ., Madison (USA). Engineering Experiment Station.

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