Venting and evaporative cooling are modeled as possible techniques for protecting polymer absorbers in single-glazed, flat-plate solar collectors from exceeding the material temperature limit during dry stagnation. Four venting options are considered: (I) venting above the absorber plate, (II) venting below, (III) dual venting, and (IV) venting with evaporative cooling. Results indicate that in hot, sunny conditions, venting may not provide adequate cooling to lower the absorber temperature to the relative thermal index of the polymeric materials currently in use or under consideration for this application. Venting combined with evaporative cooling from a wetted pad directly beneath the absorber plate is identified as a potential method of overheat protection in hot, dry climates.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
August 2005
Technical Briefs
Polymeric Absorbers for Flat-Plate Collectors: Can Venting Provide Adequate Overheat Protection?
Meghan Kearney,
Meghan Kearney
Department of Mechanical Engineering
, 111 Church Street, S.E., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
Search for other works by this author on:
Jane Davidson,
Jane Davidson
Department of Mechanical Engineering
, 111 Church Street, S.E., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
Search for other works by this author on:
Susan Mantell
Susan Mantell
Department of Mechanical Engineering
, 111 Church Street, S.E., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
Search for other works by this author on:
Meghan Kearney
Department of Mechanical Engineering
, 111 Church Street, S.E., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
Jane Davidson
Department of Mechanical Engineering
, 111 Church Street, S.E., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
Susan Mantell
Department of Mechanical Engineering
, 111 Church Street, S.E., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455J. Sol. Energy Eng. Aug 2005, 127(3): 421-424 (4 pages)
Published Online: November 1, 2004
Article history
Received:
August 5, 2004
Revised:
November 1, 2004
Citation
Kearney, M., Davidson, J., and Mantell, S. (November 1, 2004). "Polymeric Absorbers for Flat-Plate Collectors: Can Venting Provide Adequate Overheat Protection?." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. August 2005; 127(3): 421–424. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1979518
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Analysis of Erosion of Surfaces in Falling Particle Concentrating Solar Power
J. Sol. Energy Eng (April 2025)
Related Articles
Scaling of Natural Convection of an Inclined Flat Plate: Sudden Cooling Condition
J. Heat Transfer (April,2011)
Experimental Validation of Analytical Solutions for Vertical Flat Plate of Finite Thickness Under Natural-Convection Cooling
J. Heat Transfer (March,2008)
Latent Heat Fluxes Through Soft Materials With Microtruss Architectures
J. Heat Transfer (April,2008)
Evidence of a Convective Instability Allowing Warm Water to Freeze in Less Time Than Cold Water
J. Heat Transfer (February,1996)
Related Chapters
Finite Element Solution of Natural Convection Flow of a Nanofluid along a Vertical Flat Plate with Streamwise Sinusoidal Surface Temperature
International Conference on Computer and Electrical Engineering 4th (ICCEE 2011)
System Thermal Analysis—Small Box
Thermal Management of Telecommunications Equipment
Hitting the Wall
Hot Air Rises and Heat Sinks: Everything You Know about Cooling Electronics Is Wrong