Determination of the Convective Heat-Exchange Coefficient in Inner Channels of Light-Absorbing Heat-Exchange Panels of Flat-Plate Solar Water-Heating Collectors Based on the Results of Their Short-Term Thermal Testing in Full-Scale Conditions

Abstract

The results of investigations to determine the convective heat-exchange coefficient in the inner heat-exchange channels (HECs) of the light-absorbing heat-exchange panels (LAHPs) of flat-plate solar water-heating collectors (FPSWHCs) are given based on the results of their short-term heat testing in fullscale quasi-stationary conditions. The research method is based on determining the value of the required parameter from the heat-balance equation formed for the inner surfaces of the LAHP HEC walls. The structures of the flow LAHPs with a sheet-piped and thin parallelepiped form are selected as the test objects. The thermal tests of the FPSWHC are carried out during the near-midday hours of the light day to ensure the quasi-stationary mode condition. The reliability of the proposed method and results of the investigations is proved by comparing the values of the thermal-efficiency coefficients of the FPSWHC LAHPs obtained using two independent approaches.