Solar Energy,Vol.18,pp.5%64. PergamonPress1976.

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HEAT REMOVAL FACTOR FOR A FLAT-PLATE SOLAR

COLLECTOR WITH A SERPENTINE TUBE
S. I. ABDEL-KHALIK
Solar Energy Laboratory, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, W153706.U.S.A.
(Received 15 April 1975)

Abstract--The performance of a flat-plate solar collector is investigated. The collector is of the sheet-and tube design
and the tube is bonded to the absorbing plate in a serpentine fashion. Equations describing the variation of the fluid
temperature in the different segments of the serpentine are derived. These equations are then used to determine the
heat removal factor FR for the collector.
It is shown that for the general case of an N-bend serpentine, the heat removal factor depends on three
non-dimensional groups containing the different operational and design variables of the collector. A generalized chart
for estimating FR for collectors with serpentines of arbitrary geometry and number of bends is presented.

INTRODUCTION thermal conductivity k. The serpentine tubing has an out-

The performance of a solar collector is influenced by a
large number of operational and design variables. The
useful energy gain of the collector can be readily
evaluated upon knowledge of its "three governing
parameters". These parameters are: the heat removal
factor FR, the total loss coefficient UL, and the effective
transmittance-absorptance product of the cover system
(ra). In terms of these parameters, the instantaneous
useful energy gain of the collector per unit time Q, is
given by [1]:
Q. = A c F R [ H r ( T a ) - UL (T~. - T~)].
side diameter D and an inside diameter/9,. There are N
segments in the serpentine, labelled 1, 2. . . . . and N, with
spacing W and length L. Segments 1 and N are located a
distance W/2 from their respective ends of the plate.
Plate temperature distribution. We assume that for a
given value of y the plate temperature in the contact
region above segment i will be uniform and equal to Tb,
(Fig. 2). For the plate in the region between segments i
and i + 1, we postulate that the temperature gradient in
the y direction is much smaller than that in the x direction
and that there is no temperature gradient in the z
(I) direction[l]. Therefore, for a given value of y, the plate

Here, Ac is the collector area, Hr is the incident solar flux ,,9,,,,Y,...........................

on the collector plane, T~, is the inlet fluid temperature,
and T,, is the ambient air temperature. The quantity T,,.. I~lI,x
-l--~'~men'
z3 .,] I ! z L
Hr(za) is the absorbed solar energy per unit time per unit
area of the collector, hereinafter referred to as S.
For a given set of operational variables, the governing 4 tD I
parameters of the collector, viz. FR, UL and (za), can be
determined experimentally[l-4]. It is necessary, how-
ever, to have some means for predicting these parameters
I
so that the design engineer can select his materials, W
dimensions, geometry and operational variables to yield W/2; [ ................................. Tout
the most efficient and/or economical design. To this end,
several theories have been developed to predict the heat Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of the collector panel showing the
removal factors for solar energy collectors of different dimensions and configurationof the serpentine.
designs [5-9]. The assumptions involved in these investig-
ations and the corresponding expressions for FR are
summarized in [l]. ZL...x ~-'~-- W- -
The purpose of this investigation is to analyze the
performance of sheet-and-tube fiat plate collectors, where , 1 ,

! T i (x) ~D~
the tube is bonded to the absorbing plate in a serpentine
fashion. Our main objective is to determine the heat
removal factor for such collectors and its dependence on
| : i ,
t'4" , ~
the different operational and design variables. \Tb,
THEORETICALANALYSIS X

Consider the sheet-and-tube collector panel shown in Fig. 2. Schematic plot for the plate-temperature distribution in the
Fig. 1. The sheet is a thin metal plate with thickness 6 and region between segments i and i + I.

59
60 S. I. ABDEL-KHALIK

temperature T~ in that region will be governed by the and

following differential equation and boundary conditions:
qu- = x0N(1 - cosh n) (8a)
d20i nZlfii= 0 (O<_i<-N) (2)

and
d~ ~
at~,=O ~,=1} (1-< i <- N - 1 ) (3)
respectively.
The total heat flow rate per unit length entering the base
of segment i, q, is given by:

q~ = qi+ + q(
at ~i = 1 ~i = 01+~/01
= r{[0~+,-20~ cosh n + O~_,]
where - [o,+,8,N - o,(8,, + ~ , N ) + o,_~&,l}
(l-<i_<S) (9)
~., = [I", - T~ - ( S I G ) I l T . , - L - ( S / G ) ]
where &j is the Kronecker delta function defined as:
sc~= {x - [(i - I)W + ( W + D)I2I}I(W - D)
(4)
nZ= U L ( W - D ) 2 / k 6 8.=1 for i=j

and and
&~=0 for i~
o, = T ~ , - T. -(S/G)
Useful energy gain. The local value of the useful energy
In eqn (2), i = 0 refers to the region between the collector gained by the fluid in segment i per unit length in the flow
end at x = 0 and the first segment of the serpentine, while direction q.~ is given by:
i = N refers to the other end of the collector.
In deriving eqn (2), we have assumed the collector to be q.~ = q~-DULO, (10)
operating under steady state conditions. For most
practical systems, the effect of the heat capacity of the Here, the quantity [-DULO~] is the net energy collected in
collector on the system performance is negligible[10]. the region above tube i per unit time per unit length. The
A schematic diagram for the plate temperature distribu- useful energy gain q,~ is transferred from the absorbing
tion for a constant value of y in the region between plate to the circulating fluid through a thermal resistance
segments i and i + 1 is shown in Fig. 2. R, which is the sum of the resistances of the weld and
Let q~+ and q7 be the heat flow rates per unit length wall-to-fluid convection film. Hence,
entering the base of segment i in the positive and negative
x directions respectively. Therefore, qo, = (Tb, - Tk)/R (11)

k6E i dOi-i where T~ is the local fluid temperature in segment i.

q,+= (~-z-b)~ ~,_,=, (5)
Equation (11) can be written as:
and
O, = Ok + Rq., (12)
k60, d_6,
q' = + (W--2- )9) dsCl e,=o" (6) where
Ok = T~ - To - ( S / U L ) .
Solving eqn (2), subject to the boundary conditions (3),
and substituting the resulting expression for 0~ into (5) Substituting (12) into (9) and substituting the resulting
and (6), we get: expression for ql into (10), we get the following matric
equation:
qi+=K[Oi_l-O~coshn] (2-<i-<N) (7)
q. = ~ [8 - KR F]-TOt (13)
and
where, q. and 0i are (N x 1) vectors with q., and 0k as
q, =K[O~+~-O~coshn] (1-<i<N-I) (8) elements, ~ is an (N x N) unit matrix, and F is an
(N x N) matrix whose elements are given by:
where,
= k 6 n l ( W - D) sinh n. F, = (3' + 8,, + 8~N)8, + &~+,+ &j_~
where,
In order to determine ql + and qN-, we neglect the heat
loss from the collector ends at x = 0 and x =NW. 3' = - 2 cosh n - ( D U J K ) (3' < - 2).
Considering the insulated boundaries of the plate as lines
of symmetry, eqns (7) and (8) yield: Fluid temperature distribution. The fluid temperature in
segment i, Tk, is described by the following differential
q,+ = tO,(1 - c o s h n) (Ta) equation:
 Heat removal factor for a fiat-platesolar collector with a serpentine tube 61

thcp-~+(-1)'q,~=O (1 < i - < N ) (14) This means that one can, in principle, construct generalized
charts or tables, of the form:

where tn and cp are the mass flow rate and specific heat of FRULA~/thco = ~[N, 3', KR, rL/rhc~]. (19)
the circulating fluid respectively. Substituting for q,, from
(13) into (14), we get the following matric differential Knowing the function ~, eqn (19) can be used to
equation: determine F, for collectors with serpentines of arbitrary
geometry and number of bends.

d•+ .KL ~[a - K R r ] - ' r $

mc.
=o (15)
An analytic solution of (15) for the case N = 2
(Appendix A) shows that eqn (19) can be casted in the
form:
where,
6 = [1/0pL-0o~ FR/F,=~,[F2, thc,,/F, ULAc] (N=2) (20)
rl = y/L where,

and NrL KR(1 + y)2 _ 1 - 3' - KR

The boundary conditions for the set of first order ordinary
differential equations (15) are:
at r / = 0 ¢1=1
ate?=0 ¢~+~=~¢i (i=even)
at ~? = 1 4'., = a(b~ (i = odd)
where,
a = exp [-DULW/rhc~(1 + RDUL)].
The second and third boundary conditions in (16) result
from solving the differential equation describing the
variation of the fluid temperature in the end tube
connecting segments i and i + 1. For all practical
purposes, a is very close to unity, and will hereinafter be
set as such. This is equivalent to assuming that T~ and
T~+~are equal at the bend connecting the two segments.
Evaluation of the heat removal [actor FR. The matric
differential equation (15) and the boundary conditions (16)
describe the variation of the fluid temperature in the
different segments of the serpentine. For a given collector
with known operating conditions, one can solve (15) to
determine CN, and hence the exit fluid temperature To,,.
The latter can then be used to determine FR by means of
the defining equation:
FR = thco[To,, - T,,]/Ac[S - UL(T,, - T~)].
It is, of course, desirable to have some means for
evaluating FR without having to solve (15) for every
F I -~
ULAc [KR(1 + 3')- 1]2 - (KR):
and
F2 = l/[xR(l + 3,)2- 1 - 3' - KR]. (21)
It can be easily shown that F, > 0 and 0 -< F~ -< 1.
It is difficult to prove analytically that the transforma-
(16) tion from (19) to (20) is valid for any value of N, other
than 2, and that such a transformation will always result in
a unique function ~,. The validity and uniqueness of the
transformation, however, can be checked numerically. A
relation of the form (20) is preferable over (19) because it
can be presented in only one graph, whereas (19) requires
a large number of graphs to relay the same amount of
information.
Following the method described in Appendix A, eqn
(15), subject to the boundary conditions (16), is solved
numerically for different combinations of N, 11, KR and
KL/thcp. The examined ranges for these variables are:
3 _ N < 8 , -10_< 3' -<-2.05, I0-2-< KR -< 102 and 10 3-<
xL/thcp -< 10. The value of Cu at the exit corresponding
to each combination of these four quantities is then
calculated. Equation (18) is used to determine
FRULAc]rhc,. By doing so, we are now able to generate, in
tabular form, the function ~ in (19). The corresponding
values of FR/F1, F2 and thc~]Fj ULA, are then evaluated
using eqns (21); these are then plotted together with the
analytical solution for N = 2, as shown in Fig. 3.
1.O i i i iiii1[ i [ [ TIIIl~ [ ~ I I]~rr
0.054
(17)
0.8 f0.2
1-0.5
0.6 0.4

possible geometry and operating conditions. This can be

I:1 0.4 i....- o.s
accomplished by rearranging (17) in the form:
j..- o.7

0.2 I"0"8
FRULAJthcp = 1 - q~N,=o (N = even)
(18)
= 1 - CN,=] (N = odd). O.O I i ~ I I Ii1[ I ] I I hill[ I I 11111

IO-I I0O I0 I0 Z
Equation (18) shows that the non-dimensional group ri'lcp / FI ULAc
[F, ULAJ~hcp] depends only on the value of ~N at the exit
of the serpentine. Examination of the matric differential Fig. 3. Generalized chart for estimating the heat removal factor,
FR, for fiat-plate collectors with serpentines of arbitrary geometry
equation (15) and the boundary conditions (16) reveals that and number of bends. Ft and F~ are parameters which are
CN at the exit is a function of the non-dimensionalquantities functions of plate thickness and conductivity, tube spacing, and
N, y, KR and KL/thcp ; note that a was set equal to unity. other physical designparameters, and are definedby eqns (21).
62 S.I. ABDEL-KHAL1K
The numerical values of FR/F~ for the examined
combinations of N, 3', KR and KL/thc~ superposed
markedly well over the analytical solution for N = 2
expressed in the form of eqn (20). The differences in the
values of FR/Ft between the analytical results for N = 2
and those obtained numerically for higher values of N are
less than 5 per cent. These differences vanish completely
for mcflFtULA, greater than unity. This means that,
within an error limit of 5 per cent, eqn (20) is valid for any
value of N and that Fig. 3 is a generalized chart applicable
for plates with serpentines of arbitrary geometry and
number of bends.
DISCUSSIONAND CONCLUSIONS
We have examined the performance of sheet-and-tube
flat plate solar collectors, where the tube is bonded to the
absorbing plate in a serpentine fashion. Equations (15)
and (16) describe the variation of the fluid temperature in
the different segments of the serpentine. For collectors
with serpentines of arbitrary geometry and number of
bends, the heat removal factor can be described by a
correlation of the form (20). This implies that FR depends
only on the three non-dimensional groups F., F2, and
thc, [ULAc. Figure 3 is a generalized chart to obtain FR in
terms of these groups.
The error bounds on the values of FR [F1 obtained from
Fig. 3 are -+ 5 per cent for rhc, ]Ft ULAc less than unity.
Outside this range, Fig. 3 is exact. For a given value of F2,
it is, of course, desirable to operate the collector within
the plateau region of the curve (Fig. 3) to obtain a large
value of FR. These regions begin at points well beyond
rhcp [FI ULA,, = l, where the figure is most accurate.
Acknowledgements--I am indebted to Profs. J. A. Duffleand W.
A. Beckman, both of the Solar Energy Laboratory at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, for giving me the opportunity
to participate in their research program. They were responsible for
stimulating my interest in this project. To them, and other
members of the Solar Energy Laboratory, goes my appreciation
for many interesting discussions and fruitful conversations.
Financial support by the National Science Foundation RANN
Program, through Grant GI 34029, is appreciated.
NOMENCLATURE
A (N × N) matrix introduced in (A17)
Ac collector area
B (N × 1) vector introduced in (AI7)
c, specific heat of circulating fluid
d differential operator d/d-q
D outside diameter of serpentine tubing
F,, F2 non-dimensional parameters defined in (21)
F, heat removal factor defined in (17)
function defined in (19)
function defined in (20)
HT incident solar flux on the collector plane
k thermal conductivity of the plate
L length of the serpentine segments in the flow direction
l, constant multipliers in (A6)
l (N × 1) vector with l, as elements
tit mass flow rate of the circulating fluid
n non-dimensional quantity defined in (4)
N number of segments in the serpentine
P (N x N) matrix defined in (A1)
q~ total heat flow rate per unit length entering the base of
segment i
qul useful energy gained by the fluid in segment i per unit
length
q, (N × 1) vector with q,, as elements
q~+,q~ heat flow rates per unit length entering the base of
segment i in the positive and negative x directions
respectively
useful energy gained by the collector per unit time
R thermal resistance between the absorbing plate and
circulating fluid
S absorbed solar energy per unit time per unit area of the
collector
S, (N x 1) vector of constants introduced in (A3)
L ambient air temperature
T,. inlet fluid temperature
Tout exit fluid temperature
T~ fluid temperature in segment i
T., base temperature above segment i
Or. total loss coefficient of the collector
W serpentine spacing
x,y,z position coordinates shown in Fig. 1
Greek symbols
Ol non-dimensional parameter defined after (16) (a is set
equal to unity)
non-dimensional parameters defined in (A8)
Y non-dimensional parameter defined after (13)
F (N x N) matrix defined in (13)
6 plate thickness
8 (N x N) unit matrix
6o Kronecker delta function
E (N x N) matrix defined in (15)
non-dimensional y-coordinate defined in (15)
0 modified base temperature defined in (4)
Ok modifiedfluidtemperature in segment i definedafter (12)
Or (N x 1) vector with 0~ as elements
K non-dimensional parameter defined after (8)
L characteristic roots of (A5)
~:, non-dimensional x-coordinate defined in (4)
4~ non-dimensionalfluidtemperature in segment i definedin
(15)
(N × 1) vector with 4~ as elements
~, non-dimensional plate temperature defined in (4)
REFERENCES
1. J. A. Duffle and W. A. Beckman, Solar Energy Thermal
Processes, Chap. 7, Wiley-lnterscience, New York (1974).
2. National Bureau of Standards, Center for Building Technol-
ogy, Proposed Standard Method for Rating Solar Collectors
Based on Thermal Performance, November (1974).
3. R. W. Vernon and F. F. Simon, Flat Plate Collector
Performance Determined with a Solar Simulator. Paper
presented at ISES meeting at Ft. Collins, August (1974).
4. A. Whillier, A standard test for solar water heaters. Proc. UN
Con[. on New Sources of Energy 5, 111 (1%4).
5. H. C. Hottel and A. Whillier, Evaluation of fiat-plate collector
performance. Trans. Conf. on the Use of Solar Energy 2, Part
I, 74, University of Arizona Press, Tempe, Arizona (1958).
6. A. Whillier, Design factors influencing collector performance.
Low Temperature Engineering Applications of Solar Energy,
ASHRAE, New York (1967).
7. R. W. Bliss, The derivations of several 'plate efficiency
factors' useful in the design of flat-plate solar-heat collectors.
Solar Energy 3, 55 (1959).
8. K. Setcuk, Thermal and economic analysis of the overlapped-
glass plate solar-air heaters. Solar Energy 13, 165 (1971).
9. E. Speyer, Solar-energy collection with evacuated tubes.
Trans. of ASME, J. Engr. Power 86, 270 (1%5).
10. S. A. Klein, J. A. Duffle and W. A. Beckman, Transient
considerations of fiat-plate solar collectors. ASME, J. Engr.
Power 96A, 109 (1974).
11. C. R. Wylie, Advanced Engineering Mathematics, p. 461 et
seq. McGraw-Hill, New York (1966).
12. B. Noble, Applied LinearAlgebra, p. 366 et seq. Prentice Hall,
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (1969).
 Heat removal factor for a flat-plate solar collector with a serpentine tube 63

APPENDIX A Substituting (AI2) into (A11), we get:

Solution of eqn (15)
The matric differential equation (15) and the boundary
conditions (16) describe the variation of the fluid temperature in and12=(/3'+a'-/3")/[(/32-flt+J')e-2"'+(/3~+a'-/32)t}l,
= 1-12 . (AI3)
the different segments of the serpentine. The method of solution
for (15) can be found in any textbook on matrices[ll, 12]. Here,
we summarize the method of solution and show how it can be used Substituting (A 13) into (A11), then substituting the result into (18),
to get an analytical expression for FR for the case N = 2. we get:
Equation (15) can be written as:
FRUsA</fflC. = 1+[(212A,-/3,-A,)//32]. (AI4)
P(d)4t = 0 (A1)
where.
The right hand side of (At4) is a function of/3, and/321/3, only.
P(d) = d6 + .KL e[~ - K R F F T (A2) Define:
mop
F, ULA<./titc,, =- Nil, (AI5)
in (AI) and (A2), d is the differential operator d/d'o. Assume that
(AI) will have a solution of the form: and

4~ = ~ e ~. (A3) F2 -= #d/3,.

Substituting (A3) into (AlL we get: Equation (AI4) can, therefore, be written as:

P(A)S = O. (A4) FR/F, = ~l(rhcp IF, U~A<., F2). (A16)

Equation (A4) will have a nontrivial solution for S if and only if
the determinant of P(A) is equal to zero, i.e.
e(a) = o. (A5)
For each root L satisfying (A5) there will be a solution vector S~
which can be determined within an arbitrary constant multiplier l~.
If all the roots L are distinct, the complete solution to (AI) will be:
4b = ~ l~S~ e ~".
(A6)
Analytical solution [or the case N = 2. The matrix P(A ) is given
by:
Numerical solutions.for large values of N. For large values of N,
the roots .~ and the vectors of constants S, can be evaluated
numerically using standard routines for evaluating eigenvalues
and eigenvectors. The subroutine EIGENP, available on file at
the Engineering Computing Laboratory of the University of
Wisconsin, was used for that purpose. Equation (AI) was solved
for different values of N, ;t, KR and KL #hcp. The examined ranges
for these variables were: 3 -< N -< 8, - 10-< y -< - 2.05, 10-2-<
KR -< 102 and 10 3<-KL/rhcp -<10. The obtained eigenvalues
were all real and distinct, so that the complete solution for A I was
given by A6. The constant multipliers 1~were determined using the
boundary conditions (16) which gave the relation:
I = A 'B (A17)

where I is an (N × 1) vector whose elements are I, A is an

(N × N) matrix and B is (N x 1) vector with elements:
where
LK [KR(1 + y)2 _ 1 - y -KR] A a=SJ,-Ss~ , (i=odd) [ (AI8)

and
fl' - mc,, [KR(1 + y) - 1]2- (KR)2
(AS)
A~s = (Sj~ - Sj, ,) exp [a,Lhiw~R] (i = even) l
LK 1 where S,~ is the ith component of the vector Sf and
B2 = thc,. [KR(I + y) - 1]2- (KRf"
B~= 1 i = 1}
It can be easily shown that/3, > 132> 0. B~=0 i ~ l " (AI9)
For the determinant of P(,t ) to be zero the corresponding roots,
A, and &.. are given by: Upon knowledge of S~ and A, eqn (AI7) was solved to get l and
hence the non-dimensional fluid temperature vector 4).
,/, = + (/3,-"-/3f-)"" -[
and
~t_.= -,L. J (A9) APPENDIX B
Numerical example
The corresponding vectors of constants, St and $2 are: Determine FR for a collector with the following parameters:

L=l.2m, W=0.1m, N=6, 8=0.0015m,

S' = [(/3, + 1,i,)//32]' S2 = [(/3, + 1,t2)//32]' (AI0)
D=0.0075m, D~=0.0065m, k=211w/m°C,
Therefore. the complete solution to (A1) will be UL =5.0w/m2°C, rh =50kg/hr, Cp = 3.352kJlkg°C,

q~, = l,e~,-+ I.e"_,~ ] fluid-to-tube heat transfer coefficient = 1500 w]m2°C and negligible
bond resistance.
and J. (AI 1)
~ = 1,[(/3, + a ,)//321e ~'' + 1~[(/3,+ a2)//32]e~-'', Solution

The boundary conditions (16) are: n=[UL(~-D)~-]',2=[5"0(0"0925)2]"~=1_~)J 0"3676

at "0 = 0 ,b~ = 1 }.
and (AI2) kSn (211)(0.0015)(0.3676)_ 3.345 w/m°C
atr/=l 45.,=¢~, = (W - D) sinh n (0.0925)(0.376)

SE Vol.18.No. I--E
64 S . I . ABDEL-KHALIK

DU~ 0.~075(5.0) 3.345 (0.1092)(- 1.148)5 - 1 - 2.148 - 0.1092

Y = - 2 cosh n . . . . 2(1.0683) -- - -
K 3.345 = (5.0)(0.1) [0.1092(- 1.148) - 1]2 - (0.1092) 2
= -2.148 = 6.307
R = l/ht.,~rD, = 1/(1500)(~r)(0.0065) thcp[F, ULAc -- (50)(3"352)(103) = 2.05
= 0.03264°C m/w. (3600)(6'307)(5'0)(1 '2 × 0' 1 × 6)
1
F2 - KR(I + 3,)2 - 1 - 3, - KR 0'846.
From which

KR = 0.1092 Therefore, from Fig. 3, we get:

NrL KR(1 + y)2_ 1 - 3, - KR FR/F~ = 0.145
F~ ULAc [KR(I + 3,)- 1]2 - (KR)2
and finally
K rR(1 + y ) 2 - 1 - 3 ' - KR
ULW [rR(1 + 3') - 1]z - (rR) 2 FR = (0-145)(6.307) = 0.915.

R6sum6--L'article pr6sente r6tude des performances d'un insolateur plan. Celui-ci est du type plaque
absorbante--plus tube en forme de serpentin. On d6duit les ~quations relatives aux variations de temp6rature du
fluide dans les diff6rents segments du serpentin. Ces 6quations sont ensuite utilis6es pour d6terminer le facteur
d'6vacuation de chaleur FR, de l'insolateur.
On montre que dans le cas g6n6ral d'un serpentin ~ N. boucles, le facteur d'6vacuation de chaleur d6pend de trois
groupes adimensionnels comportant les diff6rents param~tres de construction et d'utilisation de l'insolateur. On
pr~sente un sch6ma g6n6ral d'estimation de F~ pour des insolateurs ~ serpentin de g6om~trie et de hombre de
boucles quelconques.

Resumen--Se investiga el comportamiento de un colector solar piano. El colector es del tipo chapa--tubo y este
tiltimo estfi unido a la placa de absorci6n en forma de serpentina. Se deducen las ecuaciones que describen la
variaci6n de la temperatura del fluido en los diferentes segmentos de la serpentina. Estas ecuaciones son entonces
usadas para determinar el coeficiente de remoci6n t6rmica (FR) del colector.
Se muestra que para el caso general de una serpentina de N curvas el coeficiente depende de tres grupos
adimensionales que contienen diferentes variables operacionales y de disefio del colector. Se presenta un grfifico
generalizado para estimar FR para collectores con geometrfa y ntimero de curvas arbitrarios.