Error analysis at development stage of an experimental setup: A review

In this paper, a review of the elementary concepts of error analysis is presented in order to explain the use of the error analysis for the development of an experimental setup. The error analysis at the planning stage of an experimental setup provides a useful tool in the selection of instruments, sensors and design parameters of the setup. An illustrative example of the error analysis at the development stage of an experimental setup to study the thermo-hydraulic performance of a flat plate solar air heater with roughened absorber plate is presented followed by a discussion on the selection of instruments, sensors and design parameters to reduce the uncertainty and achieve the desired accuracy of the result by identifying the critical measurements. The critical measurements have been identified as coefficient of discharge of the orifice plate, pressure drop across the orifice plate and collector duct, duct height, plate temperature, inlet and outlet air temperatures, and the temperature rise of the air through the collector duct with reference to the intermediate results-the mass flow rate, Reynolds number, friction factor, heat collection rate, and Nusselt number, and the final result-the thermal efficiency of the collector. The selection of instrumentation and decision regarding the design parameters have been discussed in detail for reduced uncertainty of the results.