Performance Comparison and Light Reflectance of Al, Cu, and Fe Metals in Direct Contact Flat Solar Heating Systems

Ehab AlShamaileh (), Iessa Sabbe Moosa, Heba Al-Fayyad, Bashar Lahlouh, Hussein A. Kazem, Qusay Abu-Afifeh, Bety S. Al-Saqarat, Muayad Esaifan and Imad Hamadneh
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Ehab AlShamaileh: Department of Chemistry, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
Iessa Sabbe Moosa: Department of Chemistry, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
Heba Al-Fayyad: Department of Chemistry, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
Bashar Lahlouh: Department of Physics, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
Hussein A. Kazem: Faculty of Engineering, Sohar University, Sohar P.C. 311, Oman
Qusay Abu-Afifeh: Department of Chemistry, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
Bety S. Al-Saqarat: Department of Geology, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
Muayad Esaifan: Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Petra, Amman 11196, Jordan
Imad Hamadneh: Department of Chemistry, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 23, 1-15

Abstract: The Sun is a huge and clean energy source that must be relied upon to reduce greenhouse gases and promote the renewable and sustainable energy transition. In this paper, the testing of Al, Cu, and Fe metals with different thicknesses, both bare and painted matte black, was investigated for solar water heating systems. The used technique was a direct contact flat solar heating system (DCFSHS). Many experiments were run to assess this system in terms of metals’ thicknesses and their thermal conductivities as well. Thicknesses of around 0.35 mm and 1 mm of Cu gave almost similar feedback. Maximum temperatures in the range of 93–97 °C were achieved during the autumn season in Amman, Jordan, while it was approximately 80 °C in winter. It has been confirmed that high water temperatures can be obtained in all used metals, regardless of their thermal conductivities. It was also found that a white color of the solar heater case inner wall leads to an increase in water temperature of approximately 4 °C in comparison to a black color. Furthermore, a light reflectance % test in the wavelength range of 240–840 nm for the studied metals, with both bare and black-painted surfaces, gave a superb result that was in line with the obtained results of the DCFSHS. Our innovative system design for solar water heating is due to improvements in many aspects, such as design, production costs, environment, and weight.

Keywords: solar energy; DCFSHS; commercial anodized aluminum; commercial copper; commercial iron; thermal conductivity; reflectance % (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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