Solar collector (heat)

Dimensions

Surface

This is the surface area of the PV-panel / solar collector excluding the support structure.

Orientation

The orientation of the solar collector or pv-panels relative to the north orientation. For north orientation, 0º should be specified; for south orientation, 180º. The south orientation yields the most favorable output. The orientation, along with the tilt angle, determines the amount of incident solar radiation.

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Angle of inclination

The angle of inclination of the solar collector or pv-panels. For a horizontal plane, the tilt angle is 0º; for a vertical plane, it is 90º. The most favorable tilt angle is around 35 or 36º. The angle of inclination, along with the orientation, determines the amount of incident solar radiation.

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Solar collector

Spectrally selective

In order to optimize the efficiency of a solar collector it should have a higher absorptivity of solar radiation and a lower emissivity of heat radiation. If a solar collector possesses these properties it is referred to as spectrally selective, which can be indicated by checking this box. The contribution of the sun to solar energy systems can be determined by two distinct methods. Checking the current box will only affect the calculations of method B if the collector type is a flat plate covered with glass or plastic. If the flat plate does not have any covering, then the calculations do not take into account the spectrally selective property. The calculations will always include the spectrally selective property if the collector type is a vacuum tube.

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Solar collector has PV properties

In case the solar collector generates electricity in addition to heat; this can be specified in this box. This will reduce the amount of heat generated by the collector which is quantified by the reduction factors to be found in NEN 7120, Tables 20.3 and 20.4.
Upon clicking this box an additional window appears in which the properties of the PV-panels can be specified. For more information on these properties, please consult the input of the PV-panels.

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Collector type

The collector type can be specified in this field. The type is only taken into account in the calculations if the solar contribution is determined in accordance to Appendix B (see spectrally selective). The flat rate values of the collector types are presented in NEN 7120, Tables I.2 and I.3.

• Flat plate
• Vacuum tube

Cover

The cover of the collector type can be specified here. If the collector is a vacuum tube, the glass cover is always used in the calculations. The cover is included in the calculation only if the solar contribution is determined according to Appendix B (see spectrally selective). The flat rate values of the collector types including cover are presented in NEN 7120, Tables I.2 and I.3.

• None
• Glass
• Plastic

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Solar cells

Proportion of collector area

Percentage of the collector surface that has PV properties. In practice, this is usually 100%.

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