[Greenbuilding] Solar air heater efficiency vs absorber area and airflow

[Keith Winston]

On 2/20/2011 5:20 PM, Frank Tettemer wrote:
> -Laren Corie- wrote:
>
> Performance would be improved by allowing the air to evenly pass
> through the absorber (Matrix flow-path) so that only the coolest air
> is adjacent the glazing, with the heated air behind the absorber, both
> flowing in the same direction. I suggest using vented aluminum soffit,
> as your absorber. It comes prefinished in satin black.

I've built one with several layers of black aluminum window screen (we 
used 8). Very similar to your description otherwise. The efficiency 
hasn't been tested/bench-marked, but it is working, seemingly well.

Keith