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Major Activities for Subtask A: Collectors
The activities in this subtask are intended to produce research
results that can inform participants, industry, testing labs and
certification bodies with new information on testing that will promote
harmonized testing and certification.
Activity A.1 – Roadmap of Collector Testing and Certification Issues
Develop a roadmap on existing collector testing processes to serve as
a guide to how tests and standards are applied and how they relate to
certification, and to identify gaps, inconsistencies and weaknesses
along with approaches to addressing problems. Develop recommendations
for improving the system for emerging technologies where standards and
testing are under development, for example by exploring the possibility
of “provisional” or “light” certifications based on Technical
Specifications rather than final CEN or ISO standards.
Activity A.2 – Low-to-Medium Temperate Collector Test Procedures,
Standards and Simulation
Based on priorities and issues developed in Activity 1, this task
will analyze current issues in flat plate and evacuated tube collector
testing and certification and initiate worldwide round-robin tests to
identify variations and problems in procedures. Issues the teams will
consider for research will include but not be limited to:
- wind speed dependence and comparability of ratings when tested
at different wind speeds,
- whether infrared effects explain some of the variations in
outdoor and indoor testing (note that the Germans use a “cold
baffle”- two glazings with cool air passing between; this will be
very useful to see what the bias is in their testing, versus FSEC/Bodycote
that do not attempt to alter the IR flux), and
- how the most recent changes in the EN12975 series of standards
apply to these issues. The research will also involve a comparative
analysis of how standards are applied in different countries and
whether there are inconsistencies or differences that should be
resolved to promote harmonization of standards and certification.
Where appropriate researchers will review component test simulation
tools to identify any issues in their application to current SHC
technology and opportunities to adapt to new applications. CTSS, Dynamic
System Test, Input-Output, and recent regression modelling results for
using measured data to determine parameters in models will be
investigated. Research testing and measurement standards will be
considered to identify conditions used in ratings, and share information
needed to promote harmonization across participating countries.
Researchers will review current laboratory approaches to qualification
and safety testing to identify inconsistencies, gaps, and problems
specific to low- to medium-temperature collectors. Research will also
examine the implications of component/material substitution on
performance and lifetime and characterize key components. Based on the
results researchers will develop recommendations for research or
improved practices to resolve issues. Topics may include but will not be
limited to:
- Hail testing (incident angles, ice vs. steel balls,
type/handling of ice [clear, opaque, cracks,…], test to failure
approaches) and moisture, differences in testing related to
different types of collectors.
- Determining whether quality ratings and degradation estimates
are feasible based on tests and their implications for system life,
lifetime performance, reliability and warranties.
- Mounting structures; lightning protection, working fluids and
other topics raised by growing installations in varied locations,
and will address what is appropriately addressed in component and
system testing and certification versus building codes and installer
responsibility.
- Component and material substitution and how it is addressed in
testing and standards, including when substitutions should be
considered significant enough to require new testing and standards.
For example with change in glass thickness from 4 to 3.2 mm,
substituting thicker aluminum for copper on absorber fins, fin
bonds going from fused to mechanical. Heat transfer fluids are also
an issue, for example in the U.S. heat transfer fluids in systems
with single-wall heat exchangers must be certified by the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) as food-grade, while in Europe standards
are different.
Activity A.3 – Air Heating Collector Test Procedures, Standards and
Simulation
Based on priorities and issues developed in Activity 1, for closed
loop collectors this task will examine common practices for testing and
certification of existing collectors as applied by Bodycote, Fraunhofer
ISE and others (5 collectors already certified by SRCC using ASHRAE, 3
tested by ISE using modified EN12975) to identify issues in ASHRAE
93/96, how collectors are certified by SRCC, Solar Keymark and
Australia.
For open loop collectors research will examine common practices for
testing and certification of existing collectors as applied by Bodycote
and others, and research at NREL and other labs. Work will be
coordinated with SRCC to apply results where they are appropriate for
equipment certifications which are in process.
Work on both open and close-loop collectors is expected to include but
is not limited to:
- Examining how growing markets would benefit from more
information on performance and better tests.
- Characterizing issues involved in passive/active building
integration of systems.
- Studying test procedures and promoting round-robin tests,
recommending changes in requirements and certification schema for
different types of collectors as needed.
Where appropriate researchers will review component test simulation
tools to identify any issues in their application to current SHC
technology and opportunities to adapt to new applications. CTSS, Dynamic
System Test, Input-Output, and recent regression modelling results for
using measured data to determine parameters in models will be
investigated. Research testing and measurement standards will be
considered to identify conditions used in ratings, and share information
needed to promote harmonization across participating countries.
Researchers will review current laboratory approaches to qualification
and safety testing to identify inconsistencies, gaps, and problems
specific to air heating collectors. Research will also examine the
implications of component/material substitution on performance and
lifetime and characterize key components. Based on the results
researchers will develop recommendations for research or improved
practices to resolve issues. Topics may include but will not be limited
to:
- Hail testing (incident angles, ice vs. steel balls,
type/handling of ice [clear, opaque, cracks,…], test to failure
approaches) and moisture, differences in testing related to
different types of collectors.
- Determining whether quality ratings and degradation estimates
are feasible based on tests and their implications for system life,
lifetime performance, reliability and warranties.
- Mounting structures; lightning protection, working fluids and
other topics raised by growing installations in varied locations,
and will address what is appropriately addressed in component and
system testing and certification versus building codes and installer
responsibility.
- Component and material substitution and how it is addressed in
testing and standards, including when substitutions should be
considered significant enough to require new testing and standards.
Activity A.4 – Concentrator Collector Test Procedures, Standards and
Simulation
Convene active parties (either virtually or face-to-face) engaged in
Alanod meeting, IEA research, and recently formed SRCC standards
subcommittee to develop improved methods for measurement,
characterization and testing to coordinate efforts, characterize
strengths and weaknesses of existing approaches embodied in ASTM905
efficiency test methods.
Research current approaches and develop new procedures and standards as
needed for in-situ testing of large collectors, for example placement
and calibration of environmental monitoring, time periods for
collection, approaches to normalizing and extrapolating data, etc. CEN/TC
312 meetings created a resolution regarding revision of EN12975-1 and 2
and implementation of M/369 recommended clarifying how present standards
apply to tracking and/or concentrating collectors. Action on the
resolution will be considered in order to avoid duplication of effort
and to leverage other work.
Assess applicable research conducted on fresnel, linear, dish, fixed
mirror, and other novel configurations (e.g, fixed receiver, either line
or point) conducted in Europe, Australia, and U.S. (including for CSP)
to determine their applicability to measurement and testing needs of
solar thermal products.
Conduct a review of component test simulation tools to identify any
issues in their application to current SHC technology and opportunities
to adapt to new applications. Research testing and measurement standards
to identify conditions used in ratings, and share information needed to
promote harmonization across participating countries.
Researchers will review current laboratory approaches to qualification
and safety testing to identify inconsistencies, gaps, and problems for
concentrating collectors. Research will also examine the implications of
component/material substitution on performance and lifetime and
characterize key components. Based on the results researchers will
develop recommendations for research or improved practices to resolve
issues. Topics may include but will not be limited to:
- Hail testing (incident angles, ice vs. steel balls,
type/handling of ice [clear, opaque, cracks,…], test to failure
approaches) and moisture, differences in testing related to
different types of collectors.
- Determining whether quality ratings and degradation estimates
are feasible based on tests and their implications for system life,
lifetime performance, reliability and warranties.
- Mounting structures; lightning protection, working fluids and
other topics raised by growing installations in varied locations,
and will address what is appropriately addressed in component and
system testing and certification versus building codes and installer
responsibility.
- Component and material substitution and how it is addressed in
testing and standards, including when substitutions should be
considered significant enough to require new testing and standards.
Activity A.5 – Communication and Adoption of Results
In coordination with Subtask B, develop efficient means of
communication for the results of the overall task including the
Internet, promotion of web conferences and meetings, and other tools
identified in the course of the task.
- Identify existing groups working in the subject of technology,
testing and standardization and establish links with these groups to
engage them in communications and harmonization effort.
- Develop a communication plan for the target audiences that draws
on the current IEA-SHC communication plan to further target
industry, standards and certification bodies, testing laboratories,
and other supporting organizations.
- Prepare and maintain a web page that includes work in progress
in addition to final deliverables for projects with implications for
testing and standardization, with material open to outside groups or
limited to participants as appropriate.
- Establish an alert system for information on relevant data from
IEA tasks, TC standardization groups, and certification bodies
(Solar Keymark, SRCC, Office of Australian Renewable Energy
Regulator) to actively notify interested parties of developments
rather than relying on their searching for the information.
- Establish a regular forum for participants and outside persons
to pose questions or make suggestions regarding testing processes so
that developers of new technologies have an entry point into the
testing process, and existing technology practitioners have a place
to raise questions or provide input.
- Actively recruit participation from other countries including
China and India either as direct participants in research or as
observers. Organize joint meetings in conjunction with Solar Keymark
networking or other events (Standardization Technical Committee
meetings) to promote ongoing action to harmonize standards, testing
and certification. Organize more meetings with broad international
appeal and dispersed locations like ISES meetings. Work to make
standards and testing a distinct track in larger meetings where
researchers in this task can be involved as individuals in standards
development.
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