Multiband Surface-to-Surface Radiation: Solar Collector
This tutorial uses the simulation created for the Surface-to-Surface Radiation: Thermal Insulator.
This tutorial uses the geometry and initial problem setup from the Surface-to-Surface Radiation: Thermal Insulator. It solves the same problem, except that solar radiation effects are also included using a solar load and the multiband radiation model. The multiband radiation model is used to simulate the behavior of thin glass, which transmits most solar radiation while absorbing most infrared radiation. For the purposes of this tutorial, the glass is given a high transmissivity for wavelengths in the range 0.1 to 3.0 mm , and lower values in the range 3.0 mm to 1.0 m.
While the multiband radiation model is used here to represent radiative properties that are dependent on wavelength, modeling solar radiation does not require the multiband model. If property variations with wavelength are not being considered, solar loads may also be applied with the gray radiation spectrum model.
The influence of this additional heat transfer mechanism on the overall heat transfer to the collector is considered by comparing the two sets of results.
The analysis covers the following heat transfer modes:
- Conduction
- Multiband thermal radiation
- Solar load
Note | Radiative properties given in this tutorial are for demonstration only. |