Design Optimization of Sinusoidal Glass Honeycomb for Flat Plate Solar Collectors

Abstract

The design of honeycomb made of sinusoidally corrugated glass strips was optimized for use in liquid-heating, single-glazed flat plate solar collectors with nonselective black absorbers. Cell dimensions maximizing daily-averaged solar collector efficiency and heat output per unit cost were estimated from present materials costs and postulated production methods for corrugated glass honeycomb cover assemblies. Efficiency of a cost-optimized honeycomb collector was predicted to be up to 60 percent at 100°C above ambient, and stagnation temperature up to 230°C above ambient (1000 W/m2 insolation), with lower cost per unit output than selective-absorber collectors similarly optimized.