Engineering analysis and testing of water-trickle solar collector. Final report, June 1975--November 1977

Technical Report · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:6636618

Beard, J T

An outdoor solar collector testing facility was built at the University of Virginia for the purpose of conducting thermal performance evaluations of the Thomason ''SOLARIS'' water-trickle solar collector. A near linear relationship of steady-state efficiency for the Thomason ''SOLARIS'' collector is displayed as a function of the difference between inlet water temperature and the ambient temperature, divided by the incident solar energy. The performance of the ''SOLARIS'' water-trickle collector is compared with published results for conventional single and double glazed flat-plate collectors. A theoretical model of the collector has also been used to examine the thermal performance of the collector. Experimental measurements and the model also were used to demonstrate how design changes, such as glazing spacing, glazing material, double glazing and condensate suppression influence the performance of the water-trickle collector. The test facility was expanded to evaluate the performance of an open fluid-film (silicone oil) collector. Testing was done at various ambient conditions and a discussion of the results are presented.

• Research Organization: Virginia Univ., Charlottesville (USA). Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• OSTI ID: 6636618
• Report Number(s): ORO-4927-78/1; UVA-527121/MAE78/107
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
EFFICIENCY
FLAT PLATE COLLECTORS
FLOW RATE
FLUIDS
GLAZING MATERIALS
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
INSOLATION
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
SENSITIVITY
SOLAR COLLECTORS
TEST FACILITIES
TESTING
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
TRICKLE-TYPE COLLECTORS
WIND