2134/16098 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.