C. I. Nwoye^1,, C. N. Mbah², N. I. Amalu³, S. O. Nwakpa¹, E. C. Chinwuko⁴, I. E. Nwosu⁵

This paper presents a factorial analysis of energy transmissivity by solar collector based on the collector exposure time and latitude angle of its location. A two-factorial model was derived and validated for the predictive analysis. The model structure highlighted the dependency of solar energy transmissivity on the collector exposure time and latitude angle of its location. ζ = - 0.0021θ - 5 x 10^-6ϑ + 0.9081. The validity of the derived model was rooted on the core model expression ζ - 0.9081 = - 0.0021θ - 5 x 10^-6 ϑ where both sides of the expression are correspondingly approximately equal. Regression model was used to generate results of transmissivty, and its trend of distribution was compared with that from derived model as a way of verifying its validity relative to experimental results. The results of this verification translated into very close alignment of curves and significantly similar trend of data point’s distribution for experimental (ExD), derived model (MoD) and regression model-predicted (ReG) results. Evaluations from generated results indicated that transmissivity per unit exposure time of collector and latitude angle of its location as obtained from experiment, derived model & regression model were 1.0545 x 10^-5, 1.0545 x 10^-5 & 1.0909 x 10^-5 (day)^-1 and 0.0040, 0.0040 & 0.0042 deg.^-1 respectively. Standard errors incurred in predicting transmissivity for each value of the solar collector exposure time & latitude angle considered as obtained from experiment, derived model & regression model were 0.0003, 0.0002 & 2.1422 x 10^-5 % and 0.0001, 0.0005 & 2.8396 x10^-5 % respectively. The maximum deviation of model-predicted transmissivity (from experimental results) was less than 0.03% which is insignificant. This implies a model operational confidence level above 99.9%.

analysis, solar collector energy transmissivity, exposure time, latitude angle