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Abstract
This project deals with two different models of pipe design and concludes the best possible design for thermal efficiency. Solid Works 2018 version was used to design the pipes. Numerical analysis for thermal testing was conducted by Flow Simulation of ANSYS FLUENT. Pressure drop and thermal output is calculated across the pipes with two different thermal inputs. The significance of the inlet velocity and varying incident solar radiation on the nature of flow and performance of the collector is examined. Mass flow rates have been varied from 0.0002 to 0.03kg/s while the solar insolation considered was in the range of 600 to 1000 W/m2. For a uniform heat flux, with decrease in velocity of the fluid entering the copper tube pipe, temperature of the water obtained at the outlet was found to be higher. This is due to the prolonged interaction of the fluid with the tube walls, which facilitates a higher heat gain from the tube surface to the fluid. Similarly, as the heat flux increases, the magnitude of the tube surface temperature increases which results into a higher outlet temperature.