Development of a Low-Temperature, Low-Cost, Black Liquid Solar Collector. Phase II. Semi-Annual Report, September 1, 1979-February 29, 1980

摘要

The research efforts during these first 6 months of Phase II have been directed toward (1) evaluating the long-term durability of various plastic materials and solar collector designs, (2) obtaining sufficient outdoor performance data to design a full-scale demonstration of a black-liquid solar collector for a commercial application, (3) teaming with a company willing to commercialize black liquid plastic collectors, and (4) incorporating improved black liquids with the identified plastic collector designs. Besides conducting indoor weathering tests of various plastic materials, two outdoor automated test facilities have been built. One unit has been in use for about 2 winter months at Battelle in Columbus, Ohio, and the other unit is ready for testing in Phoenix, Arizona, by Ramada Energy Systems, Inc., a collector manufacturing company. Since Ramada Energy Systems has been working with extruded polycarbonate panels, Battelle has been working to date with extruded acrylic panel designs. Other potential plastics for solar collectors will be evaluated later in this program. (ERA citation 05:018752)