CAD of a low-temperature solar energy collector using interactive programming

This paper describes a pilot interactive computer program used by midshipmen in the early phases of design of a low-temperature solar energy collector. The model has been made as simple as possible without losing the fundamental relationships of thermodynamics, fluid dynamics and heat transfer theory. The subjects covered include solar radiation, flat plate collectors, application loads and economics. Design parameters are location, time duration, absorptivity, reflectivity, tilt angle, number of cover glasses, collector temperature, air temperature, insulation condition, etc. The program provides enough information to allow users to evaluate and design their own solar thermal processes.