Mathematical modelling and simulation of a solar water heater for an aviculture unit using MATLAB/SIMULINK.

In this study, a MATLAB/SIMULINK model of a solar water heater has been developed and simulated for an aviculture building in Tehran, Iran. The thermal behavior of the subsystems, such as temperature changes of the collector, heat exchanger, and storage tank, etc., has been determined. Three different simulation approaches have been considered. The thermal performance of the system was evaluated by proposing two auxiliary heaters within the storage tank and using them in three different cases. The results showed that the collector surface area has a great impact on the absorber plate average temperature. Also, a greater amount of auxiliary heating would cause the inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger to be equal for a much longer time and thus reduce the heat exchanger efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]