'n Ondersoek na die lewensvatbaarheid van 'n eenvoudige praktiese sonenergie kollekteerder met hitteverspreidingstelsel

Abstract

Execution of the project entailed the development of a simple inexpensive sun collector system with energy transfer to a heat pipe, as well as the development of an appropriate heat pipe for the transfer of the collected heat. A cheap, simple sun collector,with an output of approximately 150 W, had to be developed. Water was used as the working fluid of the heat pipe which operated between 20°C and 200°C. The heat pipe was made of copper. Although the sun collector was made as cheaply as possible and the tin plate did not have a high finish, the collector still performed well. The collector delivered a maximum of 206 watt and a maximum temperature of 406°C was measured. Atmospheric conditions had a great influence on the output of the collector. Good results were obtained from the heat pipe. The efficiency of the heat pipe in the horizontal position was 79,5%. With the evaporator below the condenser the heat pipe obtained the highest efficiency of 96% due to the gravjtational effect. About 80 watt was transferred at 200°C.