RADIATIVE HEAT-TRANSFER IN A SOLAR AIR HEATER COVERED WITH A PLASTIC FILM

This article presents a new set of equations for the radiative balance s of the absorber plate and the transparent cover of a solar air heate r covered with a plastic film. Air flow is supposed to pass between th e absorber plate and the bottom of the collector, while the transparen t cover and the absorber plate are separated by an immobile air layer. This configuration is shown to be the best suited for a plastic cover ed solar air heater used in tropical countries, from a practical point of view. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.