Modeling, Sensitivity Analysis and Optimization of Flat Plate Solar Collector Using Real Parameter Genetic Algorithm (RPGA)

In this paper, flat plate solar collector is modeled and verified. Then, the sensitivity analysis for three different water mass flow rate including 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 /s are performed and the effect of tubes size, geometrical characteristics of collector, collector structure and absorber plate emissivity and cover emissivity on the thermal efficiency are investigated. The results of sensitivity analysis revealed that by increasing the water mass flow rate the collector efficiency increases. Then optimization is performed by considering collector efficiency as objective function and by selection of seven design parameters including number of tubes, tubes diameter, collector length, collector width, edge insulation thickness and bottom insulation thickness and three constraints including the rate of heat transferred to the fluid by the collector, aspect ratio and fluid temperature difference in the inlet and outlet of the collector. To obtain the optimum value of collector efficiency, Real Parameter Genetic Algorithm (RPGA) is used and the results of optimum design parameters and objective function are presented. Optimizing results show that best possible efficiency is 0.7362. Finally, optimization process is done for three different mass flow rates and results are reported.