Solar Thermal Collector Efficiency Formula

A solar thermal collector collects heat by absorbing sunlight the term solar collector commonly refers to a device for solar hot water heating but may refer to large power generating installations such as solar parabolic troughs and solar towers or non water heating devices such as solar air heaters.

Solar thermal collector efficiency formula.

Low temperature collectors are generally unglazed and used to. The thermal efficiency of a collector is calculated by using the formula bellow. A flat plate collector may have a performance value of 75 based on aperture area but because the gross area is almost the same as aperture the gross value will only be slightly lower. The peak efficiency value for an ap solar collector is 68 7 based on aperture area of 2 83m 2.

The efficiency of a solar thermal collector is directly related to heat losses from the collector surface efficiency being defined as the proportion of heat energy that can be retained for a predefined period of time. This can change from moment to moment with passing clouds and other local conditions. Solar thermal collectors are classified by the united states energy information administration as low medium or high temperature collectors. If based on gross area of 4 4m 2 this value is only 43 7.

Within the context of a solar collector convection and radiation are the most important sources of heat loss. Solar thermal collectors are either non concentrating or concentrating. Solar thermal energy ste is a form of energy and a technology for harnessing solar energy to generate thermal energy for use in industry and in the residential and commercial sectors.