Flow Distribution in Parallel Connected Manifolds for Evacuated Tubular Solar Collectors

Abstract

A model is presented for predicting the flow distribution in solar collector manifolds in which risers are connected in parallel between headers. Both frictional and Bernoulli effects are considered. The distributions resulting from flow in the manifold in which header streams are parallel and opposed are calculated and compared with experiment. Parallel flow gives a more uniform distribution. The outlet header is found to be more critical in balancing the flow distribution than the inlet header. Conditions under which thermosiphon effects are important and flow reversal in risers may occur are discussed with reference to experiment.