Metodologia para construção de uma bancada de ensaios para coletores solares

Abstract

Solar collectors are devices designed to capture solar radiation and convert it into thermal energy. To ensure the efficiency and reliability of these systems, it is essential to perform experimental tests during the development and validation stages. Thus, the objective is to develop the design and construction of a thermal solar collector test bench to evaluate the efficiency of solar collectors. The methodology adopted was experimental research, applied to the design, construction, and performance evaluation of the thermal solar collector test bench. During the development of the test bench, the initial system configuration made it possible to identify technical aspects that could be improved to better meet the requirements of the experimental tests. Based on this stage, adjustments were made to the hydraulic configuration and to the direction of the thermal fluid circulation, taking into account the principles of natural convection and the operating conditions required to obtain reliable measurements. These improvements contributed to the optimization of the experimental test bench, providing greater operational stability and more representative experimental results. At the end of the development process, the test bench demonstrated satisfactory performance in monitoring the main variables involved in the evaluation of thermal solar collectors, such as temperature, solar irradiance, and fluid flow rate. Therefore, the developed system proved to be a suitable tool for conducting experimental tests, enabling the analysis of the thermal behavior of solar collectors under different operating conditions and serving as a basis for future research and technological improvements.