Introduction
The installation of this solar collector should only be performed by personnel qualified in plumbing and roofing.
The installation should comply with local building codes, permits and OSHA requirements. The collector
installation can be retrofitted to existing buildings or integrated into new construction projects.
Theory of Operation
A solar collector is simply a heat exchanger designed to convert the sun's radiant light energy into thermal
energy to be stored for later use. This collector uses flat plate technology to heat the fluid media passing
through the selectively coated tubing manifold. The fluid media is circulated, via a pump, through the collector
and into a storage tank located within the home/building.
Collector Orientation
The performance of solar collector in the Northern Hemisphere is optimized when the collector is mounted
facing true south (Figure 1). Performance, however, suffers very little when the collector is oriented no more
than 45° East or West of True South. The collector should be un-shaded by any permanent obstacle between
9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on any day of the year.
Figure 1
Collector Tilt
Optimal annual efficiency is achieved by tilting the solar collector at an angle that equals your latitude plus an
additional 10°. This tilt angle favors the lower winter sun when collector performance is at its lowest and
minimizes overheating during the hottest summer months. The solar collectors in a two collector staggered
mount installation must be spaced far enough apart to prevent winter shading. The Table and Figure to follow
show the correct spacing between collectors to prevent shading on December 21, when the sun is at its lowest
angle. The Trigonometric Functions of Angles can be found in Appendix A of this document.
Содержание AE-Series
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