Exergetic Optimization of a Flat Plate Solar Collector using Particle Swarm Optimization

Two important parameters in design of plate solar collectors are flow rate of thermal agent and the area of collector. It is obvious that the energy efficiency of a solar flat plate collector increases without extremum point with flow rate and similarly the fluid outlet temperature increases with collector area. This kind of variation of energy efficiency and fluid outlet temperature does not provide an optimal and practical design point therefore the designer encounters some difficulties during the design of solar apparatus. In order to find a function to solve the problem caused by these consistently growing functions (ηen =f(ṁ), Tf,o=f(Ac)), this paper proposes the exergy efficiency function ηex=f(ṁ,Ac). The developed function is then optimized to gain the best exergy efficiency. The result of optimization is achieved the efficient point of flow rate and collector area. The optimal point has been obtained by the means of particle swarm optimization method. The obtained results are in good agreement with data gathered by experience presented in previous literatures.