MODELLING OF THERMAL PROCESSES IN A HYBRID SOLAR COLLECTOR

One of the main tasks of the modern energy sector is to provide heat supply to energy-efficient buildings through the use of renewable energy sources, including solar energy. Since modern buildings have limited space for installing solar collectors, the integration of solar heaters into the structures of external walls and facades of buildings is a promising direction. The article presents the results of studies of thermal processes in a heat supply system with a hybrid solar collector, in which a liquid coolant circulates. The system consists of a finned heat exchanger and a storage tank. In order to determine the feasibility of the practical application of such a design, a hybrid solar collector has been developed, which can be used to effectively model and solve the tasks before starting full-scale research. Computer modelling of thermal processes in the SolidWorks environment was carried out, with the help of which a series of sequential experiments were created to determine temperature changes at the outlet of the heat exchanger and in the battery tank under different operating conditions. Based on the data obtained, graphs of temperature distribution, amount of thermal energy and changes in efficiency during the study were constructed. Based on the results, conclusions have been drawn about improving the efficiency of the system with a hybrid solar collector and the possibilities of its further use in solar heating systems for energy-efficient buildings. These solutions make it possible to integrate such a solar collector into the external protection of the building. The authors provide data indicating that the efficiency of a system with a hybrid solar collector is influenced by its design features, meteorological factors, pollution and the angle of the collector. However, to fully confirm the results, further field experimental studies are needed to compare theoretical and experimental data. This work lays the groundwork for further optimisation of hybrid solar collector designs and their widespread implementation in solar heating systems.