[Bldg-sim] Solar Collector Design

[Marcus]

As Lars pointed out, if you are indeed investigating a concentrating
collector (with a reflector), then the problem is probably more complex than
modelling a flat plate collector due to the importance of radiative
transfer. It looks like CoDePro only models flat plate collectors, but I've
never used it. There might be other tools out there, but if the design is
truly custom, you might need to develop your own computer model in something
like EES (which is exactly what CoDePro is) or Matlab, etc.

Regardless, the most complete reference for solar collector modelling is the
book "Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes" by Duffie and Beckman.

Cheers,

Marcus
-- 
Marcus Jones, LEED AP, M.Sc.
*Freelance energy consultant*
*Vienna, Austria*

On Sun, Feb 27, 2011 at 4:35 PM, Lars O. Grobe <grobe at gmx.net> wrote:

> Hi!
>
>
>  For component level modeling challenges like constructing custom
>> solar thermal collectors, what sort of simulation tools would others
>> recommend to evaluate, i.e. heat transfer through different types of
>> enclosure materials into the receiving fluid, or different reflector
>> shapes?
>>
>
> Hm, I am curious about replies here. Wouldn't it make sense to break up the
> problem? Reflector design mostly would be about radiative transfer, so
> optical simulation tools would lead to an assessment of the irradiance on
> your absorbing surfaces. The second step would be to find the heat flow
> inside the piping as well as between pipes and surrounding.
>
> Cheers, Lars.
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