Heat Transfer Analysis and Performance Characterization of a Thermosyphon Flat-Plate Solar Collector for Domestic Water Heating in Kaduna, Nigeria

References

[1] J. A. Duffie and W. A. Beckman, Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes, 4th ed. Hoboken, NJ, USA: Wiley, 2013.

[2] S. A. Kalogirou, "Solar thermal collectors and applications," Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 231–295, 2004.

[3] A. S. Sambo, B. Garba, and I. H. Zarma, "Renewable energy development in Nigeria: Current status and future directions," Nigerian Energy Review, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 1–10, 2019.

[4] A. M. Olayinka and M. U. Ibrahim, "Solar water heating systems potential in Nigeria: A review," Journal of Energy Research and Reviews, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 12–25, 2021.

[5] S. A. Kalogirou, Solar Energy Engineering: Processes and Systems. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Academic Press, 2009.

[6] Y. Tian and C. Y. Zhao, "A review of solar collectors and thermal energy storage in solar thermal applications," Applied Energy, vol. 104, pp. 538–553, 2013.

[7] A. A. El-Sebaii and A. A. Al-Ghamdi, "Solar water heaters performance: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 1–19, 2010.

[8] A. Riaz, L. A. Khan, and M. Touqeer, "Heat transfer analysis and optimization of flat plate solar collectors: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 102, pp. 392–410, 2019.

[9] T. T. Chow, "Performance analysis of a flat-plate solar water heater using finite difference method," Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 23, no. 8, pp. 911–918, 2003.

[10] L. M. Ayompe and A. Duffy, "Comparative field performance study of flat plate and evacuated tube solar collectors for domestic water heating in Dublin, Ireland," Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 62, pp. 102–109, 2013.

[11] J. O. Nduka, C. O. Okoye, and E. J. Eze, "Performance evaluation of a solar water heating system fabricated from locally available materials," Nigerian Journal of Renewable Energy, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 45–54, 2022.

[12] E. C. Okafor and O. V. Ekechukwu, "Design and performance evaluation of a low-cost flat plate solar water heater," Nigerian Journal of Technological Development, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 150–158, 2020.

[13] H. C. Hottel and A. Whillier, "Evaluation of flat-plate solar collector performance," in Transactions of the Conference on the Use of Solar Energy, Tucson, AZ, USA, 1955, vol. 2, pp. 74–104.

[14] S. A. Klein, "Calculation of flat-plate collector loss coefficients," Solar Energy, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 79–80, 1975.

[15] K. Sopian and M. Y. Othman, "Performance of a thermosyphon solar water heater," Renewable Energy, vol. 30, no. 5, pp. 715–727, 2005.pma

[16] R. S. Soin and H. P. Garg, "Effect of selective coatings on the performance of flat plate solar collectors," Solar Energy, vol. 27, no. 6, pp. 561–568, 1981.

[17] A. M. Hamed, S. Ben Nasrallah, and M. Maalej, "Numerical analysis of heat transfer in a solar collector with laminar flow," Renewable Energy, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 365–379, 1999.

[18] J. Fan, L. J. Shah, S. Furbo, and Z. Chen, "Flow distribution in a solar collector panel with vertical fins," Solar Energy, vol. 83, no. 1, pp. 121–134, 2009.

[19] T. Matuska, "Heat loss coefficient of flat plate solar collectors under operating conditions," Solar Energy, vol. 125, pp. 189–199, 2016.

[20] E. Zambolin and D. Del Col, "Experimental analysis of thermal performance of flat plate and evacuated tube solar collectors," Solar Energy, vol. 84, no. 8, pp. 1382–1396, 2010.

@article{1719801,
      author = {Muazu Musa Alhaji, S. U. Muhammed, M. Samuel, M. M. Jamil, A Haruna},
      title = {Heat Transfer Analysis and Performance Characterization of a Thermosyphon Flat-Plate Solar Collector for Domestic Water Heating in Kaduna, Nigeria},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {10},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1742-1749},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1719801.pdf},
      abstract = {This study presents an experimental heat transfer analysis and performance characterization of a thermosyphon flat-plate solar water heating system for domestic application in Kaduna, Nigeria (10.5° N, 7.5° E). The research evaluated solar radiation potential, temperature distribution, heat transfer mechanisms, and system performance using a 2.2 m² collector with selective black chrome coating (α ≈ 0.92, ε ≈ 0.12), 250-liter insulated storage tank, and water as working fluid. Experimental measurements were conducted over ten clear-sky days (22nd May to 4th June 2024) using a pyranometer and K-type thermocouples. Results showed peak irradiance of 832 W/m² (average 579.8 W/m²), outlet temperatures exceeding 90°C, and average temperature rise of 30°C across the collector. The overall heat loss coefficient was determined as 6.67 W/m²·K, with transitional flow regime (Re ≈ 2230). The Hottel-Whillier-Bliss efficiency equation was derived as η = 0.78 – 5.20 × [(Ti – Ta)/Gt] (R² = 0.89), with heat removal factor FR = 0.78. Average daily energy output was 16.4 MJ (4.56 kWh), sufficient to heat 150 liters of water from 25°C to 51°C, meeting the hot water requirements of a five-person household. This study provides the first experimentally validated performance characterization of a flat-plate solar collector for domestic water heating in Kaduna, establishing baseline data for system design and policy development in northern Nigeria's solar energy sector.},
      keywords = {Flat-Plate Solar Collector, Heat Transfer Analysis, Thermosyphon System, Domestic Water Heating, Hottel-Whillier Model, Kaduna Nigeria, Selective Coating, Thermal Efficiency},
      month = {July},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1719801}
  }