Experimental Analysis of Thermal Performance of Evacuated U-Tube Solar Collector

Energy is one of the essential requirements of livinghood. In present scenario conventional energy resources for producing energy to sustain our lives has become a necessity. Since these sources are depleting at faster rate and cost of energy is increasing simultaneously, so conversion of renewable form of energy is much desired and solar energy is a good resource. The present work is based on the solar radiation received in Raipur region and the city Raipur is located in the sunny belt of the country and receives a good amount of solar radiation over the year. Research reveals that the daily average solar energy incident over India varies from 4 to 7 kWh/m having approximately 2,300–3,200 sunny hours per year. In the Raipur region the daily global solar radiation in this region is 4.58 kWh/m, while the daily diffuse radiation is 1.72 kWh/m. The present work is based on the experimental analysis using evacuated U-Tube collector. Also a system is always successful when its efficiency level increases, hence efficiency analysis under different radiation parameters has also been performed. Depending on the temperature change of atmosphere, variation in solar irradiation the thermal performance of evacuated U-tube solar collector has analysed. The analysis utilizes the set of observed data for different operating conditions. In the present study it is found that the concept of inserting copper fin in to it, has increased the thermal performance of evacuated tube collector by 10% -15% from water-in-glass evacuated collector.