Flat Plate Solar Collector Materials (and Designs with an Economic Methodology for Optimizing Collector Design)

Authors

Michael L. Day '79, Harvey Mudd College
Donald S. Remer, Harvey Mudd CollegeFollow
Daniel Hyatt '82, Harvey Mudd College

Student Co-author

HMC Undergraduate

Document Type

Article

Department

Engineering (HMC)

Publication Date

1979

Abstract

The desirability of specific materials and designs for conventional flat-plate solar collector components is considered. Then a methodology for choosing the most economic component is presented, consisting of a computer simulation and a rate-of-return analysis. The effect of rising conventional fuel costs is examined. Examples of using the methodology are given, based on Southern California climatic and user-demand conditions. Selective absorber-plate coatings and film inner glazing are shown to be economic, yielding a rate-of-return of 23 percent and 29 percent, respectively.

Rights Information

© 1979 Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering

Terms of Use & License Information

Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Recommended Citation

Day, M. L., Remer, D. S., and Hyatt, D., "Flat Plate Solar Collector Materials (and Designs with an Economic Methodology for Optimizing Collector Design)," SAMPE (Society for the Advancement of Materials and Processing Engineering) Quarterly, 11, 28 (1979).