Surface Temperature Investigations of Semi-spherical Solar Collector

Align with others environment - friendly renewable energy sources the solar energy is widely used in the world. Also in Latvia solar collectors are used. However, in Latvia because of its geographical and climatic conditions are some features in comparison with traditional solar energy using countries. One of them is frequently great nebulosity, which decreases the direct radiation, but increases the diffused one. Therefore usual constructions of solar energy receivers are not efficient enough in Latvia, and new constructions are required, which would be able to use the diffused radiation more efficiently. One of such new constructions a semi-spherical solar collector can be. Such semi-spherical solar collector has many advantages in comparison with conventional flat one. It receives more solar radiation at morning and at evening, it is more durable against wind impact, it has good look. A model of such semi-spherical solar collector has been made. This article considers the distribution and daily course of its surface temperature. The measured distribution of surface temperature of the semi-spherical solar collector corresponds to the calculated one. There are no spot on the semi-spherical surface which would never get warm. Maximal temperatures of surface vary from 45 degrees C at northern side to 100 degrees C at southern side at sunny day.