Weathering Performance of Cover Materials for Flat Plate Solar Collectors

摘要

Weathering studies were performed to obtain data on the performance and durability of cover plate materials for flat plate solar collectors used in solar heating and cooling systems. Ten materials were evaluated to assess their durability after natural weathering and artificial weathering with a xenon arc light. The materials were weathered for four years on small mini-collectors in Arizona, Florida, and Maryland after which the solar energy transmittance and the effect of dirt on the transmittance were measured. The tensile properties of selected film materials were also assessed after weathering. The effects of the natural weathering are compared: (1) for materials exposed as inner and outer cover plates for each weathering site; (2) for the three weathering sites; and (3) with materials artificially weathered with a xenon arc light.