ORIGINAL PAPER
A techno-economic investigation into performance enhancement of flat-plate solar collectors using reflective mirrors under atmospheric conditions in Kirkuk City, Iraq
1
Kirkuk Technical Engineering College, Northern Technical University, Iraq
2
Renewable Energy Research Center Kirkuk, Northern Technical University, Iraq
Submission date: 2025-10-30
Final revision date: 2025-12-14
Acceptance date: 2025-12-15
Publication date: 2026-09-25
Corresponding author
Hussein Hayder Mohammed Ali
Kirkuk Technical Engineering College, Northern Technical University, 36001, Kirkuk, Iraq
Kirkuk Technical Engineering College, Northern Technical University, 36001, Kirkuk, Iraq
Polityka Energetyczna – Energy Policy Journal 2026;29(3):219-246
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
- Energy policy
- Energy economics
- Fuels and energy markets
- Renewable energy sources
- Energy storage
- Ecological, economic, social and legal aspects in energy systems
- Effective use of energy
- Development of new energy technologies
- Regional issues of fuels and energy
- Forecasts of fuels and energy demand and supply
- Energy systems modelling
ABSTRACT
Solar energy, a sustainable and environmentally benign resource, has increasingly captivated scientific and engineering communities due to its ability to deliver clean energy with negligible operational expenses, notwithstanding its relatively high initial installation costs. The present investigation was undertaken to augment the thermal efficiency of a flat-plate solar collector by employing a reflective mirror under the climatic conditions of Kirkuk, Iraq. Two identical collectors were fabricated: one representing a conventional configuration and the other integrated with a reflective mirror to amplify the incident solar radiation and consequently elevate heat absorption. Experimental analyses were carried out during four consecutive months: December 2024 and January, February, and March 2025 at 1:00 p.m. In December, the mirror-assisted collector attained a thermal efficiency of 31.66%, compared with 28.99% for the conventional unit, indicating a 9.21% enhancement. In January, efficiency increased from 28.67% to 37.86%, corresponding to a 32.05% improvement. February recorded values of 39.59% and 36.65%, showing an 8.02% gain. March demonstrated the most substantial enhancement, as the modified collector reached 59.40% compared with 35.64% for the conventional system, a 66.66% increase. The outcomes verify that reflective augmentation significantly enhances the collector’s thermal performance, with the maximum efficiency observed in March due to the highest solar radiation intensity during this period.
METADATA IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
Polish
Analiza techniczno-ekonomiczna dotycząca poprawy wydajności płaskich kolektorów słonecznych z wykorzystaniem luster odbijających w warunkach atmosferycznych w mieście Kirkuk w Iraku
sprawność termiczna, destylator słoneczny, ocena kosztów, lustra odbijające, płyta absorpcyjna
Energia słoneczna, jako zrównoważone i przyjazne dla środowiska źródło energii, coraz bardziej przyciąga uwagę środowisk naukowych i inżynieryjnych ze względu na swoją zdolność do dostarczania czystej energii przy znikomych kosztach eksploatacyjnych, pomimo stosunkowo wysokich początkowych kosztów instalacji. Niniejsze badanie przeprowadzono w celu zwiększenia sprawności cieplnej płaskiego kolektora słonecznego poprzez zastosowanie lustra odbijającego w warunkach klimatycznych panujących w Kirkuku w Iraku. Wykonano dwa identyczne kolektory: jeden o konfiguracji konwencjonalnej, a drugi wyposażony w lustro odbijające, mające na celu wzmocnienie padającego promieniowania słonecznego, a co za tym idzie – zwiększenie absorpcji ciepła. Analizy eksperymentalne przeprowadzono w ciągu czterech kolejnych miesięcy: w grudniu 2024 r. oraz w styczniu, lutym i marcu 2025 r. o godz. 13:00. W grudniu kolektor z lustrem osiągnął sprawność cieplną na poziomie 31,66%, w porównaniu z 28,99% w przypadku urządzenia konwencjonalnego, co wskazuje na poprawę o 9,21%. W styczniu sprawność wzrosła z 28,67% do 37,86%, co odpowiada poprawie o 32,05%. W lutym odnotowano wartości 39,59 i 36,65%, co oznacza wzrost o 8,02%. W marcu odnotowano najbardziej znaczący wzrost, ponieważ zmodyfikowany kolektor osiągnął sprawność 59,40% w porównaniu z 35,64% w przypadku systemu konwencjonalnego, co stanowi wzrost o 66,66%. Wyniki potwierdzają, że zastosowanie powłoki odblaskowej znacząco poprawia wydajność termiczną kolektora, przy czym maksymalną wydajność odnotowano w marcu ze względu na najwyższe natężenie promieniowania słonecznego w tym okresie.
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