Solar Terminology
Absorber Surface
The surface of the collector plate witch absorbs solar energy and transfers it to the collector plate.
Absorptance
The ratio of the amount of radiation absorbed by a surface to the amount of radiation incident upon it.
Absorptivity
The capacity of a material to absorb radiant energy.
Active Solar System
An assembly of collectors, thermal storage device(s) and transfer media witch converts solar energy into thermal energy, and in which energy in addition to solar is used to accomplish the transfer of thermal energy.
Array
More than one collector forming a system
Azimuth Angle (Solar)
The angular direction of the sun with respect to true south.
Collector (Solar Collector)
An assembly of components intended to capture usable solar energy.
Collector Plate
The component of a solar collector that transfers the heat from solar energy to a circulating fluid.
Emissivity
The property of a surface that determines its ability to give off radiant energy.
Emittance
The ratio of the radiant energy emitted by a body to the energy emitted by a black body at the same temperature.
Fixed Collector
A permanently oriented collector that has no collector that has no provisions for seasonal adjustment or tracking of the sun.
Flat Plate Collector
A collector without external concentrators or focusing devices, usually consisting of an absorber plate, cover plate, back and side insulation and a container.
Incident Angle
The angle at which insolation strikes a surface.
Insolation
The total amount of solar energy reaching a surface per unit of time.
Nocturnal Radiation
Loss of energy by radiation to the night sky.
Passive Solar System
An assembly of collectors, thermal storage devices, and transfer media which converts solar energy into thermal energy and in which no energy in addition to solar energy is used to accomplish the transfer of thermal energy. The prime element in a passive solar system is usually some form of thermal capacitance.
Reflected Insolation
The portion of the total solar energy reaching a surface (window, wall, collector) which has been reflected by an adjoining surface.
Retrofit Solar
Altering an existing structure by adding solar equipment or device.
Selective Surface
A surface with wave length dependent properties.
Shading Loss
The loss of collector efficiency caused by the shading of the absorber plate by collector edges or components. The shading loss usually varies with the angle of incidence of insolation.
Solar Angle
The angular elevation of the sun above the horizon.
Solar Collector
Any device which collects solar energy and transforms it into another usable form of energy.
Tracking Collector
A solar energy collector that constantly positions itself perpendicular to the sun as the earth rotates.
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