DE-79-06-3 -- A Building-Integrated Site-Fabricated Air Collector PDF

The collector described in this paper is an air solar collector designed to be fully integrated into standard wood frame buildings. It can be installed on either walls or roofs and is suitable for either new or retrofit construction. The unique horizontal flow design permits the location of manifolds between the stud or rafter spaces at each end of the collector instead of irl the living space. The collector can be site-fabricated at a total installed cost of less than $75/m² ($7.00/ft²). The design has been tested to ASHRAE 93-77 standards and has passed the HUD 30-day stagnation test. It performs as well as commercially available air collectors.

The design schematics of the collector are shown, the design rationale is discussed, and experimental performance data, a cost breakdown, and construction experience are presented. Emphasis is placed on engineering and design data for the practicing professional.

The development of the collector was funded by a grant from the Solar Heating and Cooling Research and Development Branch of the United States Department of Energy.