This page is being phased out -- here is a more complete (and orderly?) list of solar tools and references.
Note: Also check the References->Solar Suppliers page for data and tools on supplier sites.
General Engineering Reference Sites | |
The Engineering Tool Box
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/
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A wide ranging engineering reference site. Material properties, Fluid Mechanics, Piping, HVAC calcs, ... |
Software Tool Lists | |
Interactive Evaluation Tools for Small Wind, hydro, water heating, space heating, pool heating... | List of Interactive Evaluation Tools for renewable energy sources. From the EERE DOE site. |
EERE Energy Software Tools Directory | DOE EERE site list of software tools for a wide renewable energy applications. Some free. |
Solar Position and Radiation Tools | |
Sun Charts | ![]() |
NREL Solar Radiation and Climatic Data | Average weather conditions and solar radiation of collectors at various orientations for many US cities. Based on 30 year weather records. Try downloading the pdf version for your state. |
Surface meteorology and Solar
Energy
NASA http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/sse/sse.cgi?na+s01#s01
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Solar radiation and solar geometry data from derived from satellite observations. Provides data for anywhere in the world. |
Sustainable By Design Solar Tools | ![]() The overhang design tool is very good. |
Radiation
On Collector
Gary |
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Windows and Glass | |
Efficient Windows https://www.efficientwindows.org/ |
Good information on choosing windows for your exposure, climate, aims... Try the "Window Selection Tool". |
http://www.pnl.gov/fta/13_glazings/13_glazings.htm | Good write up on spectrally selective glazing. |
Pilkington Glass
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Good technical data on a wide variety of glasses and some useful calculators. |
Home Heat Loss/Gain and Passive Solar Home Design Software | |
HEED
http://www2.aud.ucla.edu/heed/
Additional documentation: http://www2.aud.ucla.edu/energy-design-tools/papers.html
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Resfen
http://windows.lbl.gov/software/default.htm For precompiled Resfen data on many window types for many locations, use the "Window Selection" tool here: http://www.efficientwindows.org
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![]() Resfen allows detailed analysis of window choices for a wide variety of windows. It is a full hourly simulation, and offers weather files for many locations. Easy to use. |
Energy10 http://www.nrel.gov/buildings/energy10/
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![]() Cost is $300, or $60 for students -- just think how much energy would be saved if this program was made free! |
Infiltration Heat Loss | Estimating the saving for reducing infiltration heat loss. |
Energy Savings Calculators | |
Infinite Power
www.infinitepower.org/calculators.htm
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A good calculator for calculating the cost saving for installing a solar hot water heater. |
Solar Collector Design | |
CoDePro -- Flat Plate Collector Design Program | Program develops the efficiency curve given inputs on the collector glazing, absorber, insulation etc. |
Piping and Plumbing Analysis and Properties | |
Endot Industries | Specifications, material properties, application data, pressure loss tables, ... for various flavors of Polyethylene pipe. |
Pipe Loss Calculator | Calculates pressure losses, velocity, ... for water or water/glycol flow in pipes. |
Copper.Org | Search for "The Copper Tube Handbook" -- 7mb of more than you will ever need to know about copper tubing/pipe size, geometry, ratings, ... |
Boedeker Plastics
Plastics properties and selection guides |
Material properties and selection information for a wide variety of plastics. |
Vanguard Piping Systems
http://www.vanguardpipe.com/paltechdata.htm http://www.vanguardpipe.com/litlib.html
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Lots of data on PEX tubing,
including some test results.
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Heat Exchangers | |
U in Heat Exchangers
Download pdf (287K) |
Thermal conductivity coefficient for various heat exchange circumstances |
DTL Tube and Shell Heat Exchanger Sizing Guide | Sizing guide for tube and shell heat exchangers for DTL |
Pumps and Solar Pumping | |
A Graphic Guide to Solar Water Pumping Windy Dankoff
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![]() Very good article on designing and selecting the components for a solar electric water pumping system. Covers a wide variety of pumping head requirements, flow requirements, and system types. |
Dankoff Pumps Solar Pumps for
Space Heating Guide
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Information on pumps used for space heating fluid circulators. |
Solar Pump Selection Guide | PV powered pump sizing information. |
HVAC | |
Duct Sizing Calculator | Duct sizing calculator -- calculates pressure losses for various types of ducts |
Free Calc -- a variety of
HVAC calculators
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Duct losses, fluid flow, heat exchangers, ... |
Pipe flow and Duct Flow
Calculators
Mike Rocchetti http://www.connel.com/freeware/index.shtml
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Calculators for pressure loss in pipes and ducts, steam tables, and a Psychrometric Calculator |
Refrigeration | |
Optimum Refrigeration Temperatures for Foods | Chart compiled by Glacier Bay Inc provides ideal short and long term storage temperatures for various foods. |
Electrical | |
Wire Current Tables
http://www.teicontrols.com/ampacity.html
http://www.teicontrols.com/conduit.html
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Maximum allowable current in
wires as a function of insulation type.
Maximum number of conductors in conduit as a function of wire gauge and conduit size. Another wire table for AWG that includes resistance per 100 ft and much more. |
Electric Motor Current Draw | |
http://www.teicontrols.com/motoramp.html
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Approximate motor current draw at full load. |
Units | |
Online Units Conversion | Online calculator to convert units (eg metric to English) |
Heat Transfer Analysis Methods | |
The Thermal Wizard -- A
variety of heat loss calculators
http://www.thermal-wizard.com/tmwiz/
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Watlow - Reference Engineering Data | Data on heat loss from surfaces, material properties, ... |
Materials Specs | |
Boedeker Plastics
Plastics properties and selection guides |
Material properties and selection information for a wide variety of plastics. |
Specs for a wide variety of
plastics
http://www.interstateplastics.com/specifications/
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Specifications for a wide variety of plastics: Acrylic, Nylon, PVC, Polycarbonate, HDPE, ... |
Material Specs on High
Temperature Plastics
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Material specs on some high temperature plastics, including PTFE (Teflon). |
Emissivity of many materials
http://www.electro-optical.com
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Emissivity of many materials (paints, metals, plastics, ...) |
Pollution and Emissions Calculators | |
Infinite Power
www.infinitepower.org/calculators.htm
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Calculators to estimate carbon dioxide and other pollutants generated by activities like driving, using electricity etc. Lot of other good renewable energy information on this site. |
Energy Conversion | |
Heat Content of Common Fuels | Heat content in BTU for common fuels |
Fuel Energy Equivalence
Calculator
SHEC labs |
Compare fuels for energy content. |
Heating System Efficiency | Efficiency for various types of heating systems and fuels. |
Books and Publications
Technical reference books that I have used and like, or have been highly recommended by others. Sites with an extensive library of solar publications. |
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Solar Thermal Engineering
Peter Lunde |
Covers a wide selection of
topics, well written, practical, manageable math.
1980, 600 pages Out of print, but available used at Amazon.com and the like. |
The Passive Solar Energy Book
-- Expanded Professional Edition
Edward Mazria |
Covers all the basics, very
readable, very little math.
1979, 700 pages Out of print, but available used at Amazon.com and the like. |
Solar Engineering of Thermal
Processes, 2nd Edition
John Duffie and William Beckman |
Very complete -- widest
coverage of the books listed here.
1991, 900 pages |
CANMET Energy Technology Center -- Buildings Group -- Publications | Outstanding list of publications on solar and renewable energy. Canada government site. |
Solar Air Heating Systems
Steve Kornher with Andy Zaugg
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![]() The link provides extensive excerpts from the book courtesy of Steve and Andy -- Thanks!! |
Pumps and Turbines
Arthur Williams |
Nice combination of
understandable physics and sensible economics.
2003 ITDG Publishing |
Design: Solar Heating Of Buildings and
Domestic Hot Water
MIL-HNBK 1003/13A www.ccb.org/docs/UFC/3_440_04.pdf (1.6mb pdf) |
170 page mil handbook on solar heating -- starts with general descriptions, but goes on to cover solar space heating and water heating in some depth -- and its free. |
Active Solar Collectors and
Their Application
Ari Rabl |
A great engineering reference on solar collectors of almost all types. |