Generalized Analytical Equation for the Top Heat Loss Factor of a Flat-Plate Solar Collector With N Glass Covers

Abstract

A generalized analytical equation for the top heat loss factor of a flat-plate collector with one or more glass covers has been developed. The maximum computational errors resulting from the use of the analytical equation with several simplifications are ± 5 percent compared to numerical solution of the set of heat balance equations. The analytical equation is considerably more accurate than the available semi-empirical equations over the entire range of variables covered. An additional advantage of the proposed technique over the semi-empirical equations is that results can be obtained for different values of sky temperature, using any given correlation for convective heat transfer in the air gap spacings, and for any given values of fluid (air in the present case) properties.