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Paul Henshall
Paul
Henshall
Roger Moss
Roger
Moss
Farid Arya
Farid
Arya
Philip C. Eames
Philip C.
Eames
Stan Shire
Stan
Shire
Trevor Hyde
Trevor
Hyde
An evacuated enclosure design for solar thermal energy applications
Loughborough University
2014
Renewable energy
Solar thermal
Vacuum
2014-10-17 08:38:40
Conference contribution
https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/conference_contribution/An_evacuated_enclosure_design_for_solar_thermal_energy_applications/9578981
Flat-plate solar thermal collector technology when coupled with vacuum enclosure technology has potential to supply clean energy
efficiently for use in applications including residential water and space heating. This paper focuses on the design of vacuum enclosures
for flat-plate solar collectors with specific reference to vacuum enclosures designed for thin micro-channel solar absorber plates
(thickness < 10mm). The expectations, requirements and applications of these solar collectors are discussed along with a description
of an enclosure concept under consideration. Potential seal materials are identified and their limitations discussed. Finite element
modelling results are presented and conclusions made regarding design parameter selection.