Analysis and optimization of a multi-stage solar collector system

We present an analytic method for predicting the long-term performance of solar energy systems with more than one collector brand (“multi-stage” systems). This procedure enables the designer to determine the most cost-effective method of combining different collector brands for a given load. Although our derivations pertain to solar systems for constant load applications and/or near constant collector operating threshold, they can also be used for conventional multi-pass designs. The problems of excess energy delivery, and of various collector on/off control strategies, are taken into account. Our results are simple closed-form expressions whose evaluation requires readily-available average climatic data, and load and collector characteristics. The analytic method is illustrated by a solved example which shows that significant savings can be realized by combining different collector brands for a given application (multi-staging).