The present research study includes thermal energy performance analysis of a flat plate
solar collector, in order to cover a sensitivity analysis about effective variables
contributed to performance increasing approach. To obtain that, energy and momentum
governing equations on a flat plate thermal collector were developed to achieve air output
temperature and velocity profiles both in model and experiment. The model theory is
validated with experiments by a set of flat plate thermal collectors, those located in
(35◦44′35′′ N, 50◦57′25′′ E) coordinates and then were applied to carry out
experimental activities. Quantitative results depicted that the mean difference between
predicted and measured output air temperature in natural and forced convection scenarii is
1.47 ◦C (3.5%) and
0.9 ◦C (1.5%),
respectively; however earlier research works and studies mentioned in literature, include
error percentages in the range of 4–10%. Another quantification about, the average error
percentages of estimated amounts of output air velocity profile values in natural and
forced convection scenarii is 9% and 4%, respectively. This issue realizes the developed
model in forced convection scenario more accurate than natural convection scenario.