Performance analysis of transparent perforated solar collectors for air preheating, for three different building claddings

Greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by using renewable energy sources such as solar air preheating. Transparent perforated solar collectors (TPSC) are a relatively new technology with a solar coefficient – performance factor - of 1.20 (when backed with a black metal cladding) [1]. The following trends were observed in a real-weather environment during the first year of the project:.TPSC, when backed with a black cladding, offers the highest efficiency compared with a metallic perforated collector – 9.7% monthly-average increase for solar intensity over 550 W/m2.TPSC backed by the black cladding offers the greatest energy savings potential, while the white-cladding-backed TPSC captures about 68% of this energy (monthly average).There is a potential for energy storage for TPSC backed with the brick cladding.