NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF THE TOTAL INCIDENT SOLAR RADIATION ON THE FLAT-PLATE SOLAR COLLECTOR WITH SINGLE-AXIS TRACKING – CASE WITH INCLINED N-S AXIS AND E-W TRACKING

Abstract

In this paper, the Energy Plus software was used to numerically analyze the possible implementation of the single-axis (around the inclined N-S axis in the E-W direction) tracking mechanism on the flat-plate solar collector, all to maximize the collection of the total incident solar radiation. Based on a large number of simulations, a five-month (from June to October) sample was created, and then three basic behavior patterns of the mentioned solar structure were defined: extremely clear (first case), clear (second case), and cloudy weather (third case). The results showed the application justification of this solar design because in the first case (August 16), up to 50% more solar radiation reaches the single-axis tracking flat-plate solar collector than the fixed flat-plate solar collector of the same active surface. In the second (July 26) case, that difference is somewhat smaller, i.e. 35% in favor of the single-axis tracking flat-plate solar collector, so that in the third (September 6) case it would be the smallest (below 10%), but still in favor of the single-axis tracking flat-plate solar collector.