Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

The analysis and comparison of actual to predicted collector array performances

Journal Article · · IBM J. Res. Dev.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1147/rd.233.0253· OSTI ID:5429261
The Hottel-Whillier-Bliss (HWB) equation has been the standard tool for the evaluation of collector thermal performance for four decades. A technique that applies the criteria of ASHRAE Standard 93-77 to the determination of the HWB equation coefficients from field-derived data is presented. Results of the analysis of a sample collector array illustrate the technique. Actual dynamic performance of various collector arrays in the field are compared to those predicted by the steady-state efficiency models for the individual panels. In certain cases, the HWB model produces derivations of over 100% from measured hourly performances and 35% from measured monthly performances when compared with the single-panel laboratory-derived model. However, when the field-derived HWB model is used as the basis of comparison the performance derivations were typically less than 5%.
OSTI ID:
5429261
Journal Information:
IBM J. Res. Dev.; (United States), Journal Name: IBM J. Res. Dev.; (United States) Vol. 23:3; ISSN IBMJA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English