Abstract:
This paper deals with the inverse analysis of a double-glazed flatplate
solar collector using the artificial bee colony (ABC) optimization
algorithm. In domestic water heating, both low and high heat output
from the solar collector is undesirable, so the solar collector is required
to supply the hot water at a particular temperature only, which in turn
requires a given distribution of heat loss factor. With this criterion,
the present analysis is aimed at predicting feasible dimensions and
configurations of a solar collector satisfying a prescribed distribution
of heat loss factor using ABC algorithm. It is observed that many
feasible alternatives of unknowns exist which satisfy a prescribed
requirement, and using the ABC algorithm, the size of the solar
collector can be minimised by 6–32% with reference to the existing
records. The effects of changing ambient conditions are also studied.
Furthermore, a comparative study of the ABC algorithm against other
heuristic algorithms reveals its suitability and efficacy for the present
estimation problem.
