Experimental Diagnosis of the Heat Pipe Solar Collector Malfunction. A Case Study

Pawel Znaczko, Emilian Szczepanski, Kazimierz Kaminski, Norbert Chamier-Gliszczynski and Jacek Kukulski
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Pawel Znaczko: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Koszalin University of Technology, 75-453 Koszalin, Poland
Emilian Szczepanski: Faculty of Transport, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-662 Warsaw, Poland
Kazimierz Kaminski: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Koszalin University of Technology, 75-453 Koszalin, Poland
Norbert Chamier-Gliszczynski: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Koszalin University of Technology, 75-453 Koszalin, Poland
Jacek Kukulski: Faculty of Transport, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-662 Warsaw, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-19

Abstract: Work was carried out to diagnose irregularities in the operation of a vacuum-tube solar collector. Experimental investigations of the collector were carried out at the solar collector field test stand in the Laboratory of Solar Collectors at the Koszalin University of Technology. The scope of the work included the following: research on thermal efficiency characteristics, research on the temperature distribution on the solar collector manifold, and research on the geometric structure of the heat pipe and filling with the working medium. Based on the diagnostic tests carried out, the occurrence of incorrect sedimentation in the condenser on the neck of the heat pipe (44%) and an incorrect amount of working medium (66%) were found. The results show that the functioning of the heat pipe significantly depends on its geometric structure and the amount of working medium. Any irregularity at the production stage contributes to a reduction in the thermal efficiency of the solar collector. The results of the experimental research presented in this paper can be used in the diagnostic analyses of solar systems as well as in the organisation of the manufacturing processes of these systems.

Keywords: heat pipe solar collector; diagnostic investigation; infrared measurement; heat pipe defects; phase change materials; thermal efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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