Final report on MSFC assessment of Owens--Illinois SUNPAK collector problems

Technical Report · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6593927· OSTI ID:6593927

Wiesenmaier, B. L.

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) conducted an in-depth assessment of problems encountered with the Owens-Illinois SUNPAK liquid evacuated tube solar collector installed in several ERDA solar system demonstration sites. The assessment included analysis and independent tests of the collector in the MSFC Solar Simulator where the system failure conditions were duplicated. The assessment showed the basic design of the SUNPAK collector to be sound; however, material limitations dictate that near-term applications constraints be recognized by system designers. Subsequent retrofit activity by Owens-Illinois appears to have been effective in demonstrating the integrity of the SUNPAK collector.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Huntsville, AL (USA). George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Solar Energy; NASA
• DOE Contract Number: EX-76-A-29-1037
• OSTI ID: 6593927
• Report Number(s): DOE/NASA/TM--78179; NASA-TM--78179
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
BOILING
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
EVACUATED COLLECTORS
EVACUATED TUBE COLLECTORS
EVALUATION
FAILURES
FREEZING
LEAKS
MATERIALS TESTING
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
QUALITY ASSURANCE
RECOMMENDATIONS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR SIMULATORS
SPECIFICATIONS
TESTING