Fabrication of Low Cost Solar using Polypropylene (PPR) Pipes – An Investigation
Vijayakumar R1, Nidhya Kumari R2, Himani J3, Rahul V4, Varun V5

1Vijayakumar R, Department of Chemical Engineering, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, (Dubai), UAE.
2NidhyaKumari R, Department of Chemical Engineering, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, (Dubai), UAE.
3Himani J, Department of Chemical Engineering, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, (Dubai), UAE.
4Rahul V, Department of Chemical Engineering, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, (Dubai), UAE.
5VarunV, Department of Chemical Engineering, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, (Dubai), UAE.
Manuscript received on 05 February 2019 | Revised Manuscript received on 13 February 2019 | Manuscript published on 28 February 2019 | PP: 365-367 | Volume-8 Issue-4, February 2019 | Retrieval Number: D2862028419/19©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Abstract: The conversion of solar energy into thermal and electrical form is possible is possible by the using photovoltaic modules and solar collectors. Solar collector absorbs the direct solar radiation and converts it into thermal energy, which can be stored in the form of sensible heat/ latent heat and a combination of both diffused in the working fluids. Present work deals with the performance evaluation of solar power based air heater fabricated using polypropylene (PPR) pipes foiled with aluminium. The use of PPR polymer results in the reduction of total initial cost of fabrication. The working fluid, which was air, is introduced into the collector system made of polypropylene pipes and were the fluid (air) is heated by using solar energy. The outer surface of the PPR pipes were paint in black color to maximize the absorption of incoming solar radiation. The air absorbs the entrapped heat of the pipe and the heated air was comes out of the system. Further, to minimize heat losses from the front collector, glass is used as a top cover. The change in temperature of the fluid with respect to time was observed. The effectual inlet load of fluid (air) on the performance of solar heater was investigated by varying the mass flow rate (MFR) of the fluid (air)
Keyword: Air Solar Heater, PPR Pipes, Mass Flow Rate, Efficiency
Scope of the Article: Bio-Science and Bio-Technology