Comparative field experimental investigations of different flat plate solar collectors. (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Guangming; Doroshenko, Alexander; Koltun, Paul; Shestopalov, Kostyantyn
• Is Part Of: Solar energy. Volume 115(2015)
• Page Start: 577
• Page End: 588
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Solar collector -- Test rig -- Hot water supply system -- Polymeric materials -- Life Cycle Assessment; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Solar engines -- Periodicals; 621.47
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2015.03.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-092X

Abstract

Highlights: Polymeric materials are employed for solar collector construction. Polycarbonate is the prospective material for the solar application. The efficiency of the SC-P is lower compared to the efficiency of traditional one. Environmental impact of SC-P is lower than that of metal SC. Abstract: Full-scale traditional metal solar collectors and solar collector specimens fabricated from polymeric materials were investigated in the present study. A polymeric collector is 67.8% lighter than a traditional metal solar collector, and a metal solar collector with transparent plastic covering is 40.3% lighter than a traditional metal solar collector. Honeycomb multichannel plates made from polycarbonate were chosen to create a polymeric solar collector. A test rig for the natural circulation of the working fluid in a solar collector was built for a comparative experimental investigation of various solar collectors operating at ambient conditions. It was shown experimentally that the efficiency of a polymeric collector is 8–15% lower than the efficiency of a traditional collector. The results of a Life Cycle Assessment study showed the advantages of the application of polymeric materials in the construction of solar collectors.