SENSITIVITY OF AIR-TYPE SOLAR COLLECTOR EFFICIENCY TO DESIGN CHANGES.

The sensitivity of the thermal efficiency, the collector efficiency factor and the collector loss coefficient, to design parameter (top loss, bottom loss, convective and radiative heat transfer in the collector) changes is presented graphically for three common air-type solar collectors. Interactions are shown to exist as design parameters change. Design parameter changes have different effects depending on location of the flow channel. The most critical component of air-type solar collector design is the convective heat transfer coefficient in the flow channel since its effect on efficiency may be positive or negative depending on collector type and operating conditions.