Pressure Drop Analysis for U-Tube Evacuated Tubular Collector

The objective of this study is to determine the effect of water temperature and volume flow rate on the pressure drop across a U type evacuated tubular collector. The findings are expected to be useful for pump selection and to determine the pumping power required for operating an Evacuated tubular collector based solar thermal plant. A detailed mathematical model is developed, utilizing correlations found in literature. An experimental investigation is carried out on an experimental setup consisting of Evacuated tubular solar collector combined with instrumentation. The developed mathematical model was simulated, and the results were validated with the data obtained from the experimental investigation within the minimum acceptable normalized root-mean-squared error. Results showed that the pressure drop across the setup reduces as the water temperature increases. The pressure drop also exhibited a non-linear function of the volume flow rate of water and hence at higher flow rates, minor changes in volume flow rate produce a larger pressure drop across the setup.