PROSPECTS OF USING POLYMERIC MATERIALS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SOLAR COLLECTORS

The solar energy that reaches the Earth is free, but installations to convert solar energy into heat, as well as equipment for transporting and storage that heat, require some investment. A significant part of the components of these systems are metals. Pipelines in solar collectors and heat exchangers are made of copper, aluminum is used for the absorber and housing, and the steel is often used in heat storage tanks. One of the options to reduce the cost of solar collectors and increase their efficiency is to use polymeric materials instead of metals. The main advantages of using polymeric materials in solar thermal collectors are their cost, especially if you are taking into account the growth of the renewable energy market and rising prices for metal . The use of polymers also reduces the costs of production, transportation and installation for the user.