In order to further promote the utilization of solar thermal systems, solar collectors need to become more efficient and cost effective. This can be accomplished by a variety of methods, either by using lower cost materials, or/and by increasing their thermal efficiency by novel design. The...

A polymer solar collector is developed and its behavior is investigated both experimentally and with computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Solar irradiation as well as convection and heat transfer in the circulating fluid and between the parts of the collector is considered in the model. The...