Energy transfer in solar air collector with different thermal storage materials

The thermal storage materials of collector play an important role. And energy transfer in the solar air collector is relatively complex. A model for its energy transfer was introduced in order to analyze the processes of heat transfer in solar air collector. Taking pebbles and water filled with black tube as the thermal storage material respectively, changing the packing height of the pebbles out of the water tubes, we experimental study on collector's performance with thermal storage material. The air temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of collector with water as thermal storage material is lower than that of pebble collector. Heat storage in the collector with water works efficiently than that of pebble alone at 13.4 degrees C when 715W/m(2) solar radiation intensity. The collectors with water filled black tube worked steadily. In the condition that 720W/m(2) at 12 degrees C, when the water tubes bare completely on the pebbles, the air temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of collector and its efficiency are higher.