Open Access

ARTICLE

Energy and Cost Analysis of Processing Flat Plate Solar Collectors

Mamdouh El Haj Assad^1,*, Ali Khosravi², Mohammad AlShabi³, Bassam Khuwaileh³, Abdul-Kadir Hamid⁴
1 Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering Department, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
2 Mechanical Engineering Department, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
3 Mechanical and Nuclear Energy Engineering Department, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
4 Electrical Engineering Department, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
* Corresponding Author: Mamdouh El Haj Assad. Email:

Energy Engineering 2021, 118(3), 447-458. https://doi.org/10.32604/EE.2021.014590

Received 10 October 2020; Accepted 19 November 2020; Issue published 22 March 2021

Abstract

In this work, a life cycle analysis is accomplished for flat plate solar collectors. The purpose of this investigation is to predict the energy consumption during the manufacturing processes that results in carbon dioxide emissions. Energy consumption and system efficiency enhancement will be studied and predicted. CES EduPack software is used to perform the analysis of the currently commercial system, and the suggested changes are implemented to increase the efficiency and make the comparison. Even though cost analysis is done, the priority of selection is given to the most energy conserving and environmentally friendly alternative. However, if the compared alternatives result in the same energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, the cost analysis would be a better approach. It can be stated that flat plate solar collectors are sustainable and renewable energy systems that do not produce CO₂ emissions during their active usage, but the manufacturing processes they undergo during the design contribute to the greenhouse gasses emission.

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Keywords

Life cycle; solar collector; renewable energy; solar thermal; CO₂ emission; economic analysis

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Citations