November 10, 2008
How can I make water flow through a solar panel in a laboratory experiment?
lilpoprincess1 asked:
Hi, if I were to do a laboratory experiment on how to find the energy conversion rate for a solar panel (an array of pipes), how can I make cold water (from a beaker at one end) flow through the panel? Then make hot water on the other end?
Please advise, many thanks!!
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Gravity.
Since you are not going to be able to heat the water to a boil, use a funnel and a stopcock valve on the top.
You probably won't get a true reading unless you have enough water to completely fill the system, so you'll also need a stopcock on the bottom.
Measure your change in temperature of the H20 over, say, 5 minutes. (Fill system, wait 5 minutes, drain system and measure temp in outlet flow.)
And, if possible, use copper – better heat absorption.
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