A new method for the measurement of solar collector time constant

A new test method about the time constant of the solar collector has been presented in this paper. It is simple and has been validated through experiments. With the new method it is not necessary to adjust the inlet temperature of the transfer fluid as closely as possible to the ambient air temperature. Also, it is not necessary to know the characteristic parameters of the collector in advance. The model used in the paper is a first order system model, as in most cases. The experimental data obtained from the test of solar collector time constant shows that the solar collector is not a strictly first order system. A criterion is proposed to decide whether the system is a first order system or not and the resemblance of the system to the first order system.