Simulation of optimal exergy efficiency of solar flat plate collector

Exergy analysis identifies potential factors responsible for thermodynamic losses and leads to efficiency improvements. in the present paper,exergy efficiency is expressed as a function of dimensionless mass flow rate and outlet fluid temperature. a computer program was developed for determining the optimal performance parameters for maximum exergy efficiency in a flat plate collector. the study was conducted for six collectors of different areas,having a different overall loss coefficient and a heat removal factor. it is observed that for given values of incident solar radiation,inlet fluid temperature and ambient temperature,the optimal mass flow rate varied from 0.0019 -0.0022 kg/s and exergy efficiency varied from 5.2- 8.2% for the collectors depending on its gross area,overall heat loss coefficient and heat removal factor. © 2016 jordan journal of mechanical and industrial engineering. all rights reserved.