Optimal Design of V-shaped Absorber Plate to the Performance of Solar Water Heater

Solar energy is known as an environmentally friendly energy source and wide range of applications. This energy is utilized in various applications such as domestic and industrial water heating, refrigeration, cooking, power production and water pumping etc. The present study analyzes absorptivity of flat-plate absorber and various V-shaped absorber plates. Analytical investigation of absorptivity of the various V-shaped absorber plates and comparison with that of the flat-plate absorber was carried out. The result shows that V-shaped absorber plate with angle of ??? = 21 0 (V-shaped dimension of t = 4 cm and l = 4 cm) has a better absorptivity compared with that of the flat-plate absorber and others V-shaped absorber plates. Improving the absoptivity of absorber plate enhances thermal performance of solar water heater. Utilization of V-shaped absorber plate will increase the efficiency of solar water heater due to increasing its absorptivity of absorber plate