Calculating the Solar Energy of a Flat Plate Collector

by Ariane Rosario

Submitted : Spring 2013

In this project, the solar energy absorbed by a one square meter flat plate solar collector, taking into account the varying sunset hour, for each day of the year was calculated in three locations: Tampa FL, Fairbanks AL, and Pontianak, Indonesia. Utilizing an excel spreadsheet calculator, it can be concluded that energy from the collectors placed near the equator drew more total energy than from nearer the poles: Pontianak, Indonesia drew 12.42% more solar energy than Tampa, and 96.9% more solar energy than the Alaska location.

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