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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Solar collector test procedures: development of a method to refer measured efficiencies to standardized test conditions. Final report 1977-80

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6837828
An analytical procedure has been developed for referring collector efficiency measurements, obtained under different test conditions, to a common, or 'standard' set of conditions. The procedure applies to flat-plate liquid-type collectors of conventional tube-in-sheet design. The basic Hottel-Whillier-Bliss theory is used with appropriate extensions to account for serpentine flow configurations and glazing materials with high infrared transmittance. The procedure includes a systematic method for deriving two invariant collector parameters directly from ASHRAE Standard 93-77 test results. The two parameters selected are the plate absorptance and back loss coefficient. A set of standard conditions is recommended which corresponds to favorable test conditions.
Research Organization:
Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg (USA). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
OSTI ID:
6837828
Report Number(s):
PB-84-165299; VPI-E-80-23
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English