ASTM E781-86(2009)

Although this practice is intended for evaluating solar absorber materials and coatings used in flat-plate collectors, no single procedure can duplicate the wide range of temperatures and environmental conditions to which these materials may be exposed during in-service conditions.

This practice is intended as a screening test for absorber materials and coatings. All conditions are chosen to be representative of those encountered in solar collectors with single cover plates and with no added means of limiting the temperature during stagnation conditions.

This practice uses exposure in a simulated collector with a single cover plate. Although collectors with additional cover plates will produce higher temperatures at stagnation, this procedure is considered to provide adequate thermal testing for most applications.

Note 1—Mathematical modelling has shown that a selective absorber, single glazed flat-plate solar collector can attain absorber plate stagnation temperatures as high as 226°C (437°F) with an ambient temperature of 37.8°C (100°F) and zero wind velocity; and a double glazed one as high as 245°C (482°F) under these conditions. The same configuration solar collector with a nonselective absorber can attain absorber stagnation temperatures as high as 146°C (284°F), if single glazed, and 185°C (360°F), if double glazed, with the same environmental conditions, (see “Performance Criteria for Solar Heating and Cooling Systems in Commercial Buildings,” NBS Technical Note 1187 ).

This practice evaluates the thermal stability of absorber materials. It does not evaluate the moisture stability of absorber materials used in actual solar collectors exposed outdoors. Moisture intrusion into solar collectors is a frequent occurrence in addition to condensation caused by diurnal breathing.

This practice differentiates between the testing of spectrally selective absorbers and nonselective absorbers.

Testing Spectrally Selective Absorber Coatings and Materials—Spectrally selective solar absorptive coatings and materials require testing in a covered enclosure that contains a selectively coated sample mounting plate, such that the enclosure and mounting plate simulate the temperature conditions of a selective flat-plate collector exposed under stagnation conditions.

Testing Nonselective Coatings and Materials—Spectrally nonselective solar absorptive coatings and materials require testing in a covered enclosure that contains a nonselective coated sample mounting plate, such that the enclosure and mounting plate simulate the temperature conditions of a covered, nonselective flat-plate collector exposed under stagnation conditions.

1.1 This practice covers a test procedure for evaluating absorptive solar receiver materials and coatings when exposed to sunlight under cover plate(s) for long durations. This practice is intended to evaluate the exposure resistance of absorber materials and coatings used in flat-plate collectors where maximum nonoperational stagnation temperatures will be approximately 200°C (392°F).

1.2 This practice shall not apply to receiver materials used in solar collectors without covers (unglazed) or in evacuated collectors, that is, those that use a vacuum to suppress convective and conductive thermal losses.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.