A high performance porous flat-plate solar collector

F.L. Lansing, V. Clarke and R. Reynolds

Energy, 1979, vol. 4, issue 4, 685-694

Abstract: Although solar air heaters in general have the same economic potential as solar water heaters, the state of the art remains a technical achievement awaiting commercial exploitation. This paper presents the use of porous construction to achieve efficient heat extraction from an energy absorbing solid, and its application to solar air heaters. Analytical solutions are given for the temperature distribution within a gas-cooled porous flat plate having its surface exposed to the sun's energy. The extracted thermal energy is calculated for two different types of plate transparency: 1.(1) an opaque surface matrix with total absorption of the sun's energy at the top surface and2.(2) a diathermanous matrix with successive absorption of solar energy within the matrix depths. The analysis shows that great improvement in performance can be obtained with porous flat plate collectors as compared with analogous non-porous types for the same optical properties, radiation intensity and heat loss coefficients, the percentage improvement can be as much as 102% compared to non-porous types. To support the analytical work, an experimental collector has been constructed and operated to obtain performance data on various porous absorber materials available in the market place. The construction, preliminary performance results and description of the low cost absorber are included.

Date: 1979
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:4:y:1979:i:4:p:685-694

DOI: 10.1016/0360-5442(79)90090-2

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