An experimental and numerical study to compare evacuated tube collectors and flat plate collectors for tent cooling in the Iraqi climate

Abstract

This paper compares FPCs and ETCs: their thermal performance, cooling capacity, cost and applicability as a tent in a warm climate. Case studies of two field installations in Iraq. In August 2022, there was a field installation that used FPCs with evaporative cooling in Anbar. In August 2025, a field installation of ETCS was completed at Nasiriya with absorption cooling. In a site in Anbar, the FPC system was able to successfully lower the inner tent temperatures by 6–8 °C, Record outlet water temperatures of 40–65, and thermal efficiency of about 45%. ETC sys. in Nasiriya matched an average efficiency of 62% and generated greater outlet temperatures of 55-90 °C (average 71 °C), which facilitated. Due to the ETCs having a higher output temperature and a stable efficiency under strong solar radiation, they are suitable for the cooling based on absorption in long lasting or semi-permanent camps. The FPCs offer an easy and inexpensive solution that is more appropriate for faster deployment in humanitarian situations where evaporative cooling can.