Numerical study on the limiting characteristics of an open-type water-cooled flat-plate solar collector

The effects of various parameters on the limiting characteristics of an ope n-type water-cooled flat-plate collector were studied numerically. The resu lts showed that the heat and mass transfer was enhanced with an increase in the inlet water temperature. The operating temperature and the interfacial mass flux maintained a higher constant for 4 and 2 hours around the noonti me, respectively. An increase in atmospheric temperature or humidity and a decrease in the film thickness caused the operating temperature to rise to some extent. The wind velocity exerted a great influence on the operating t emperature.