Performance and Durability Assessment:: Optical Materials for Solar Thermal Systems

by Alvin Warren Czanderna (Editor)

Solar devices lose their performance over time. The rate of degradation controls the service life of these devices. The essential concepts used to assess durability and performance of two specific solar collector systems are described, enabling researchers to assess durability in other solar devices. The examples of modelling, testing and performance measurements give researchers a how-to approach to reach crucial service lifetime predictions. Achieving successful and sustainable commercialisation of solar products relies on the fulfilment of 2 further criteria and these are also discussed. The methodology of service lifetime predictions (SLP), which is explained in detail in the book, is crucially needed in other solar technologies and is generally applicable to a wide variety of materials, components and systems used in other solar, biomedical, aerospace, electronic and coatings technologies.

412 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

American Surface scientist. Recipient Industrial Research International Rectifier -100 award, 1977.