A flat plate solar collector absorbs solar radiation and transfers heat to a working fluid.
Common heat transfer fluids used in flat plate solar collectors are:
\[
\text{air},
\]
\[
\text{water},
\]
and:
\[
\text{ethylene glycol-water mixture}.
\]
Water is used because it has good heat capacity.
Air is used in air heating solar collectors.
Ethylene glycol-water mixture is used where freezing protection is required.
Fuel oil is not normally used as a heat exchange fluid in flat plate solar collectors.
It is mainly a fuel, not a usual solar collector working fluid.
Therefore, the fluid usually not used is:
\[
\text{Fuel oil}.
\]