Experiment no.

6
Solar Flat- Plate Collector
(1) Solarimeter, (2) Foldable Hinge,
(3) Bleeding
Valve,
Valve,
2. Connect
one(4)
end Gate
of the hose
to water
(5) Axial Pump,
(6) the
Thermometer,
faucet and
other to the liquid
(7) Insulated Pipes, (8) Flat plate
inlet pipe of the solar plate collector.
cover (9) 3.
Inlet
valve
Make
sure that the water inlet valve
and the ball valve are open. Close the
water outlet valve.
4. Set up the plate collector such that it
is inclined at 20 degrees with respect
to the ground.
5. Open the water faucet. Secure the
connection of the hose and pipe to
avoid water spillage.
6. Wait for some time for the water to
fill the solar plate collector. The
collector is nearly full when you hear
Apparatus Used:
(1)Solarimeter, (2)mercury thermometer,

a sound coming from the ball valve.

7. When water flows out of the ball
valve, close the water inlet valve and
ball valve. Be sure not to stand in

(3)Solar plate (entire set-up), (4)hose,

front of the ball valve because the

(5)pliers,(6)AVR, (7)extension wire

water will come out of it at high

Experimental Procedure:
Preliminary Procedure
1. Make sure that the set-up is parallel
to the ground.

velocity.
8. Close the faucet and return the hose.
9. Lower the collector and move it to
the designated area for experiment
proper.

Gathering of Data

1. Once the experiment starts, do not

1. Make sure to cover the axial pump to

avoid heating.
2. Open the port at the suction side of
the pump and place the mercury
thermometer such that the tip is
submerged on the water inside the
set-up.
3. Record the initial temperature of
water.
4. Record the initial temperature of the
plate

by

aiming

the

infrared

thermometer to the surface of the

solar-flat plate collector.
5. Position the solar irradiance meter
parallel to the solar-flat plate to
obtain the solar irradiance.
6. Classify the weather conditions as
Cloudy, Fair or Sunny. Cloudy
condition is when the sun is fully
blocked by clouds, Fair condition is
when the sun is partially blocked and
Sunny condition is when the sun is
free from any obstructions.
7. Record the data (Water Temperature,
Plate

Temperature,

Solarimeter

Reading, and Weather Condition) at

a 15 min interval for 3 hours.
Safety Precautions

try to open or even try to touch the

discharge valve of the solar-flat plate
collector.
2. On gathering data avoid hitting the
mercury thermometer.