A review of performance improvements in design features of liquid flat-plate solar collector
Yogesh Kumar, Manoj Verma, Harish Kumar Ghritlahre, Satish Kumar, Priyanka Verma, Shiena Shekhar
Abstract
Solar energy is a widely used, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, clean, and carbon-free renewable energy source that reduces reliance on coal, electricity, and other sources. It is considered the most valuable among all renewable energy sources available. Solar energy is widely used for a range of applications, including water heating in domestic and industrial settings, with flat-plate solar collectors (FPSCs) being a popular choice due to their simple design, ease of installation and operation, and lower maintenance requirements compared to other types of solar collectors. This review attempts to provide attention to the up-to-date technological advancement and enhancement in the performance of water heater using design features of FPSC such as flow tube design and shape of collector, absorber coating and material, glazing material, and insulation used. This review aims to offer a useful method for assessing and contrasting various methods of heat transfer enhancement, ultimately leading to the selection of the most suitable option. Additionally, the study highlights the research gaps and suggests potential areas for future improvement, which is expected to assist researchers in advancing this technology further.