Thermal performance of a flat-plate liquid solar collector
Report presents procedures and results of a program to obtain thermal performance data on double-covered liquid solar collectors.
Shih, K.↗
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Results for “solar collector”
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Glass solar collector - materials assessment
Comprehensive series of tests evaluates design, materials, and failure modes of commercially-available glass solar-collector system. Results of materials analysis segment of program are presented to report.
Nichols, R. L.↗
Design data brochure for the Owens-Illinois Sunpak (TM) air-cooled solar collector
Information necessary to evaluate the design and installation of the Owens-Illinois Sunpak TM Air-Cooled Solar Collector is presented. Information includes collector features, fluid flow, thermal performance, installation and system tips. The collector utilizes a highly selective wavelength coating in combination with vacuum insulation, which virtually eliminates conduction and convention losses.
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A two-dimensional thermal analysis of a new high-performance tubular solar collector
The first of two articles are presented which describe and analyze the thermal performance of a vacuum tube solar collector. The assumptions and mathematical modeling are presented. The problem is reduced to the formulation of two simultaneous linear differential equations characterizing the collector thermal behavior. After applying the boundary conditions, a general solution is obtained which is found similar to the general Hottel, Whillier and Bliss form but with a complex flow factor.
Lansing, F. L.↗
Wind and structural loads data measured on parabolic trough solar collectors at an operational power plant
Abstract Wind loading is a primary contributor to structural design costs of concentrating solar-thermal power collectors, such as heliostats and parabolic troughs. These structures must resist the mechanical forces generated by turbulent wind, while the reflector surfaces must maintain optimal optical performance. Studying wind-driven loads at a full-scale, operational concentrating solar-thermal power plant provides insights into the wind impact on the solar collector field beyond the capabilities of wind tunnel tests or state-of-the-art simulations. We conducted comprehensive field measurements of the atmospheric turbulent wind conditions and the resulting structural wind loads on parabolic troughs at the Nevada Solar One plant over a two-year period. The measurement setup included meteorological masts and structural load sensors on four trough rows. Additionally, a lidar scanned the horizontal plane above the trough field. In this study, we describe the high-resolution dataset characterizing the complex flow field and resulting structural loads. This first-of-its-kind dataset will enhance the understanding of wind loading on collector structures and will help in designing the next-generation solar collectors and photovoltaic trackers.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
Testing of three hot- air solar collectors
Report presents procedures used and results obtained during program to determine pressure drops across three prototype hot-air solar collectors as function of air velocity and operating temperature.
Losey, R.↗
Indoor test for thermal performance evaluation on life sciences engineering (air) solar collector
The test procedure used and the results obtained from an evaluation test program conducted to obtain thermal performance data on a life sciences double-glazed air solar collector under simulated conditions is discussed. These tests were made using the Marshall Space Flight Center's solar simulator. A time constant test and incident angle modifier test were also conducted to determine the transient effect and the incident angle effect on the collector. These results and the results of the collector load test are also discussed.
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Design review of a liquid solar collector
Report documents procedures, results, and recommendations for in-depth analysis of problems with liquid-filled version of concentric-tube solar collector. Problems are related to loss of vacuum and/or violent fracture of collector elements, fluid leakage, freezing, flow anomalies, manifold damage, and other component failures.
Wiesewmaier, B. L.↗
Solar collectors. I - Fundamentals and collectors of the past and present
The paper is a state-of-the-art review aiming to familiarize those who are new in the solar energy field with past accomplishment in solar energy utilization. Consideration is given to the design features and performance definition of solar collectors. The characteristics of planar collectors, line focusing collectors, and point focusing collectors (including the central receiver concept) are briefly discussed.
Selcuk, M. K.↗
Indoor test for thermal performance evaluation on the Sunworks (air) solar collector
The test procedure used and the results obtained from an evaluation test program conducted to obtain thermal performance data on a Sunworks single glazed air solar collector under simulated conditions are described. A time constant test and incident angle modifier test were conducted to determine the transient effect and the incident angle effect on the collector. These results and the results of the collector load test are also discussed.
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Manifold Insulation for Solar Collectors
Results of computer analysis of effects of various manifold insulation detailed in 23-page report show that if fluid is distributed to and gathered from array of solar collectors by external rather than internal manifold, effectiveness of manifold insulation has major influence on efficiency. Report describes required input data and presents equations that govern computer model. Provides graphs comparing collector efficiencies for representative manifold sizes and insulations.
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Thermal performance evaluation of the Solargenics solar collector at outdoor conditions
Test procedures used during the performance of an evaluation program are presented. The test program was conducted to obtain the following performance data and information on the solar collector. (1) thermal performance data under outdoor conditions; (2) structural behavior of collector under static conditions; (3) effects of long term exposure to material weathering elements. The solargenics is a liquid, single-glazed, flat plate collector. Approximate dimensions of each collector are 240 inches long, 36 inches wide, and 3.5 inches in depth.
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Dynamic modeling for evaluation of solar collector performance
Dynamic modeling is being developed to provide a tool for systematic analysis of performance characteristics in energy systems where time-dependent behavior is important. A dynamic model program designed to aid in the understanding of solar collector behavior over the full range of operating conditions was constructed and tested in the evaluation of a conceptual collector design.
Hamilton, C. L.↗
Protection of solar collector materials from UV
Certain plastic films, such as KAPTON, are known to be stable with excellent long-term aging characteristics under intense uv radiation. Our recent measurements of the optical transmission spectra of KAPTON films show an absorption edge in the blue and are interpreted in terms of an electronic excitation mechanism. The application of this type of film as covering for solar collectors is discussed in regard to the protection this strong uv absorption offers to the materials underneath.
Castle, J. G., Jr.↗
Solar collector installation design system including exceptional condition management and display
Embodiments may include systems and methods to create and edit a representation of a worksite, to create various data objects, to classify such objects as various types of pre-defined “features” with attendant properties and layout constraints. As part of or in addition to classification, an embodiment may include systems and methods to create, associate, and edit intrinsic and extrinsic properties to these objects. A design engine may apply of design rules to the features described above to generate one or more solar collectors installation design alternatives, including generation of on-screen and/or paper representations of the physical layout or arrangement of the one or more design alternatives. In some embodiments, metadata about the design process, including the process of classifying features and providing user input, generating layouts, and then modifying those layouts, may be generated. The metadata may include information about exceptional conditions in the project state information or design. A list of exceptions corresponding to exceptional conditions may be generated, and the designer may interact with these exceptions in a variety of ways, such as by complying with rules to remove an item from the exceptions list or overriding the application of the rules. The exceptions may be non-blocking relative to other user actions.
Wayne, Gary↗
Development, testing, and certification of life sciences engineering solar collector
Results are presented for the development of an air flat plate collector for use with solar heating, combined heating and cooling, and hot water systems. The contract was for final development, testing, and certification of the collector, and for delivery of a 320 square feet collector panel.
Caudle, J. M.↗
A performance evaluation of various coatings, substrate materials, and solar collector systems
An experimental apparatus was constructed and utilized in conjunction with both a solar simulator and actual sunlight to test and evaluate various solar panel coatings, panel designs, and scaled-down collector subsystems. Data were taken by an automatic digital data acquisition system and reduced and printed by a computer system. The solar collector test setup, data acquisition system, and data reduction and printout systems were considered to have operated very satisfactorily. Test data indicated that there is a practical or useful limit in scaling down beyond which scaled-down testing cannot produce results comparable to results of larger scale tests. Test data are presented as are schematics and pictures of test equipment and test hardware.
Dolan, F. J.↗
Parabolic Solar Collectors
Paper presents tutorial overview of point focusing parabolic reflectors for solar-energy collectors. Optical and thermal characteristics of collectors discussed in detail.
Truscello, V. C.↗