The NBS Solar Collector Reliability/Durability Test Program: Summary of results and recommendations for collector testing

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · J. Sol. Energy Eng.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3268060· OSTI ID:5904623

Waksman, D; Thomas, W C

Efforts in the development of reliability/durability tests for solar collectors and their materials have been hampered by the lack of real time and accelerated degradation data that can be correlated with in-use conditions. In 1977, the Solar Collector Reliability/Durability Test Program was initiated by the U.S. Department of Energy at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) to help generate the data required to develop methods for predicting the long term durability and reliability of flat-plate solar collectors and their materials. This paper summarizes the results obtained in the test program for full-size solar collectors. Recommendations are made regarding the use and limitations of thermal performance measurements and environmental exposure tests for assessing the durability of flat-plate solar collectors.

• Research Organization: Center for Building Technology, National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
• OSTI ID: 5904623
• Journal Information: J. Sol. Energy Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Sol. Energy Eng.; (United States) Vol. 108:1; ISSN JSEED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
DATA ACQUISITION
EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
FLAT PLATE COLLECTORS
MATERIALS TESTING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
RECOMMENDATIONS
RELIABILITY
SERVICE LIFE
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TESTING
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
US DOC
US DOE
US NBS
US ORGANIZATIONS