Date of Award
Spring 1983
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Abstract
This thesis was directed toward developing and evaluating a solar energy monitoring and analysis program which monitored and analyzed solar thermal collectors. The program, which employs a SOL-20 microcomputer, simultaneously collects data and runs tests on up to five solar collectors. Weather information (i.e. ambient temperature and wind speed) and collector data (temperatures and flow rate) are gathered via special hardware that communicates with the computer. This information is displayed for the operator's use on a CRT (cathode ray tube) screen. The program takes care of the normal housekeeping chores such as updating the time and date and calculating the solar position. It also runs five different tests on any of the five collectors. These tests are: Normal test, Stagnation test, Collector Thermal Efficiency test, Collector Incident Angle Modification test and Time Constant test. The four latter tests come directly from the ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) Standard 93-77. When the tests are complete the results are sent to a printer for permanent record. The system is a powerful tool which will allow the user great flexibility in testing solar collectors or new collector materials and designs.
Recommended Citation
Bronikowski, Alan Joseph, "The Development of a Microcomputer System to Monitor and Analyze Solar Collectors" (1983). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 3973.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/3973