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Solar Collector Design, Ratings, and Performance

Analysis tools to size and design solar collectors.

Includes references and tools for solar collector design, and information on the organizations that test and rate solar collector performance.

Solar Collector Design
CoDePro -- Flat Plate Collector Design Program http://sel.me.wisc.edu/codepro/new_codepro.html	Program develops the efficiency curve given inputs on the collector glazing, absorber, insulation etc.
Active Solar Collectors and Their Application Ari Rabl	A great engineering reference on solar collectors of almost all types.
Effects of Tilt and Azimuth On Annual Incident Solar Radiation For the United States Locations Craig Christensen and Greg Barker www.solar.fiu.edu/PDFs/pdfs/34892-31.pdf	This paper provides a very simple set of contour plots that show optimum collector orientation, and the performance effect for deviations from optimal. Covers only the US, but the general relationships would be useful elsewhere. Some limitations -- read the cautions in the paper.
Solar Collector Ratings and Performance
Solar Collector and Certification Corporation www.solar-rating.org How to use the SRCC collector ratings ... NEW! Added a very good example from Alan that shows how to estimate collector heat output per dollar spent.	The SRCC provides independent certification, rating, and performance data for solar collectors and for solar water heating systems. Download the "Directory of SRCC Certified Solar Collectors" to get detailed performance data under various service conditions for dozens and dozens of collectors.
Comparison Of Various Collectors, Alan	Alan uses the SRCC ratings and collector price data to evaluate the price/performance for several flat plate and evacuated tube collectors for his latest solar water heating project. It is a great example of how to use the SRCC data to make a good decision on which collector is best for a particular application.
SPF -- Solar Collector Performance Tests http://www.spf.ch/spf.php?lang=de&intro=1	The SPF provides performance test data for a wide range of solar collectors. Collector performance and performance of the collector in 3 kinds of systems are provided. All in a very readable format.