Solar collectors are crucial components of a Solar Thermal Power plant (STP) which are required to be within a certain feasible range in order to operate and provide solar thermal resources and intermittent inputs. The closed-loop controller design for solar collectors enhances the lifespan of STP.
The use of the design tool for parametric analysis coupled with economical calculations can provide optimisation of the solar collector construction. Heat loss from absorber through glazing to ambient environment for solar collectors with low-emissive absorber (emittance 0.05) is around 75 % of overall collector heat loss.
The mathematical model of solar collector consists of external energy balance of absorber (heat transfer from absorber surface to ambient environment) and internal energy balance of absorber (heat transfer from absorber surface into heat transfer fluid).
Computer modeling of solar thermal collectors is a principle approach for testing of new construction concepts and improvements in the development and design stage for developers and manufacturers. Virtual prototyping of solar collectors can save the investments into number of prototypes and foresee the collector performance in advance.
Experimental validation of the solar flat-plate collector model has allowed the use of the universal design tool KOLEKTOR 2.2 for virtual prototyping of efficient solar collector constructions, including evacuated collectors for building integration applicable to advanced solar systems (solar heating and cooling systems).
It allows a very detailed specification of collector geometrical and material parameters. It covers a large segment of solar collectors (unglazed, single and double glazed) and evaluates also optical properties of the collector, e.g. incident angle modifier.