Question 6

The solar collector with the performance curve depicted in your solar homework is used to heat

water over a 4 hour period. The collector has an area of 16 m² and the storage tank has a volume of

250 gallons. The water in the storage tank is initially 18°C and the ambient air temperature is 10°C.

Assume that the water moving through the collector has an average temperature of 50°C for the

purposes of calculating the solar collector efficiency. The flow rate through the collector is 0.5 L/s.

The average global radiation incident on the collector is 620 W/m² over the 4 hours. Determine:

a. The average solar collector efficiency.

b. The rate of heat absorbed by the collector, in kW.

c. The exit temperature of the water from the collector, in °C.

d. The total energy absorbed by the collector, in kJ.

e. The average temperature of the water in the tank after 4 hours, in °C.