The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Drying and Processing => Topic started by: farmfromkansas on October 13, 2018, 06:40:48 PM

Title: picked up a used air solar collector
Post by: farmfromkansas on October 13, 2018, 06:40:48 PM
Need to rehab the unit, the glazing is shot, but intact.  Measures about 4' x 11' x about 6 1/2".  Looked at the double wall polycarbonate,  is smooth, like the original.  Do you  think the "absorber" material will be reusable, or should be replaced.  Hope to use this to add heat to my insulated container, to dry lumber. has anyone  here rehabed a used solar collector?
Title: Re: picked up a used air solar collector
Post by: GeneWengert-WoodDoc on October 13, 2018, 10:54:00 PM
Double wall polycarbonate is wonderful.

The absorber could possibly be painted with flat black.  It is surprising how even a little dirt greatly affects performance.

The rule of thumb is one square foot of collector for each 10 BF of lumber.