sunshine flat panel solar water heater Flatplatecollectorsarethemostcommonsolarthermalcollectors.Theyaremostappropriateforlowtemperatureapplications(under140°F;60°C),suchasdomestichotwaterandspaceheating. Aflatplatesolarthermalcollectorusuallyconsistsofcoppertubesfittedtoaflatabsorberplate.Themostcommonconfigurationisaseriesofparalleltubesconnectedateachendbytwopipes,theinletandoutletmanifolds.Theflatplateassemblyiscontainedwithinaninsulatedbox,andcoveredwithlow-iron,temperedglass.(Seethediagramonpage45.) Themostefficientcollectordesignmaximizessolarheatgain,minimizesheatlosses,andprovidesforthemostefficientheattransferfromabsorberplatetotube.Operatingtemperaturesupto250°F(121°C)areobtainable,althoughneithercommonnordesirable.Remember,youwanthotwater,notsteam. SelectiveSurface Aselectivesurface,oftenreferredtoas"blackchrome"isfarmoreefficientthanablackpaintedabsorbersurface.Althoughablacksurfaceismostefficientatabsorbingsolarradiationandconvertingittoheat,itisalsohighlyefficientatre-radiatinglongwaveinfraredheatbackout.Theselossesreducecollectorefficiency. Ahighlypolishedchromesurfacewouldre-radiatetheleastinfraredheatenergy,butofcoursenotbeingblack,itwouldabsorbverylittle.Aselectivesurfacecombinesthebestofbothworlds;highabsorptancewithlowemittance.Soundhigh-tech?It'sbeenaroundsincethe1950s,andisusedonmostcommerciallyavailableflatplatecollectors.Itsperformanceisworththemarginaladditionalcost,particularlyincoldclimateswhereradiantheatlossisgreatest.