Exergy, economic, and environmental study for flat plate solar collector using pulsating flow

Solar energy is considered a fundamental pillar in the principles of global sustainability for clean energy. Therefore, the main goal of researchers is to search for methods to improve the performance of solar collectors. Hence, this research aims to study the impact of pulsating flow on solar collectors through exergy, economic, and environmental studies. To make measurements, a comprehensive test system was developed. Pressure, flow rate, sun radiation, fluid temperature, and ambient temperature were all measured. Calculations were made for exergy efficiency and entropy generation. The cost of the heat that the system's design generated was established. Savings on greenhouse gas emissions were calculated. The highest Exergy efficiency reached 9.33% for 4 Hz at a flow rate of 360 L/hr. The entropy generation was changed between 0.655 and 0.296 kW/k for continuous and pulsating flow, respectively. According to calculations, energy production may be increased by as much as 33.5%. The pulsing flow achieved a net reduction in CO2 emissions of 13.4 tons per year. In the present situation under study, the energy price to 0.063$/kWh. The energy payback period based on energy and exergy analysis was 4.34, 24.17 years, respectively.