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

Analysis of thermal performance of ''Solaris'' water-trickle solar collector

Conference ·
OSTI ID:7235664
Thermal performance testing and evaluation of the Thomason ''Solaris'' water-trickle solar collector were undertaken with the aid of a special outdoor research facility. Results demonstrate the performance of the Thomason ''Solaris'' collector with efficiencies ranging from 30 percent up to approximately 75 percent. These results show a nearly linear relationship as a function of the difference between inlet water temperature and the ambient temperature, divided by the incident solar energy. The significant scatter in the data results from other variables which are analyzed in the paper. These variables include glazing cleanliness, angle of incidence, water evaporation and condensation, wind condition, and the influence of condensate droplets on the overall solar energy transmitted to the absorbing surface. The performance of the ''Solaris'' water-trickle collector is compared with published results for conventional single and double flat-plate collectors.
Research Organization:
Virginia Univ., Charlottesville (USA)
OSTI ID:
7235664
Report Number(s):
CONF-761107-17
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English