Standard Practice for Exposure of Cover Materials for Solar Collectors to Natural Weathering Under Conditions Simulating Operational Mode

SCOPE
1.1 This practice provides a procedure for the exposure of cover materials for flat-plate solar collectors to the natural weather environment at temperatures that are elevated to approximate operating conditions.
1.2 This practice is suitable for exposure of both glass and plastic solar collector cover materials. Provisions are made for exposure of single and double cover assemblies to accommodate the need for exposure of both inner and outer solar collector cover materials.
1.3 This practice does not apply to cover materials for evacuated collectors or photovoltaics.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

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Historical
Publication Date
28-Feb-2007
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ASTM E782-95(2007) - Standard Practice for Exposure of Cover Materials for Solar Collectors to Natural Weathering Under Conditions Simulating Operational Mode
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E782 − 95(Reapproved 2007)
Standard Practice for
Exposure of Cover Materials for Solar Collectors to Natural
Weathering Under Conditions Simulating Operational Mode
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E782; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Significance and Use
1.1 This practice provides a procedure for the exposure of
3.1 This practice describes a weathering box test fixture and
cover materials for flat-plate solar collectors to the natural provides uniform exposure guidelines to minimize the vari-
weather environment at temperatures that are elevated to
ables encountered during outdoor exposure testing.
approximate operating conditions.
3.2 This practice may be useful in comparing the perfor-
1.2 This practice is suitable for exposure of both glass and
mance of different materials at one site or the performance of
plastic solar collector cover materials. Provisions are made for the same material at different sites, or both.
exposure of single and double cover assemblies to accommo-
3.3 Since the combination of elevated temperature and solar
date the need for exposure of both inner and outer solar
radiation may cause some solar collector cover materials to
collector cover materials.
degrade more rapidly than either alone, a weathering box that
1.3 This practice does not apply to cover materials for
elevates the temperature of the cover materials is used.
evacuated collectors or photovoltaics.
3.4 This practice is intended to assist in the evaluation of
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
solar collector cover materials in the operational, not stagna-
standard.
tion mode. Insufficient data exist to obtain exact correlation
between the behavior of materials exposed according to this
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
practice and actual in-service performance.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.5 Means of evaluation of effects of weathering are pro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
vided in Practice E781, and in other ASTM test methods that
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
evaluate material properties.
3.6 Tests of the type described in this practice may be used
2. Referenced Documents
to evaluate the stability of solar collector cover materials when
2.1 ASTM Standards:
exposed outdoors to the varied influences which comprise
E781 Practice for Evaluating Absorptive Solar Receiver
weather. Exposure conditions are complex and changeable.
Materials When Exposed to Conditions Simulating Stag-
Important factors are solar radiation, temperature, moisture,
nation in Solar Collectors With Cover Plates
time of year, presence of pollutants, etc. These factors vary
E881 Practice for Exposure of Solar Collector Cover Mate-
from site to site and should be considered in selecting locations
rials to Natural Weathering Under Conditions Simulating
for exposure. Control samples must always be used in weath-
Stagnation Mode
ering tests for comparative analysis. Outdoor exposure for at
G7 Practice for Atmospheric Environmental Exposure Test-
least two years is required to make evident changes, such as
ing of Nonmetallic Materials
surface degradation without the use of sophisticated analytical
equipment.
3.7 Temperature conditions attained with this box may not
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on
exactly duplicate those that occur under operational conditions
Solar, Geothermal and Other Alternative Energy Sources and is the direct respon-
sibility of Subcommittee E44.05 on Solar Heating and Cooling Systems and with fluid flow. Dependent on environmental exposure
Materials.
conditions, the cover plate temperatures obtained with this box
Current edition approved March 1, 2007. Published April 2007. Originally
may be higher or lower than those obtained under operational
approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as E782 – 95 (2001).
conditions. Additional testing under stagnation conditions,
DOI: 10.1520/E0782-95R07.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
although not covered by this practice should be conducted.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on NOTE 1—Research has shown that exposure outdoors at sites having the
the ASTM website. combination of high levels of humidity, solar energy, and ambient
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E782 − 95 (2007)
temperature can cause more severe degradation of some polymeric cover
materials, (for example, microcracking and leaching of UV radiation
screening additives) than exposure in arid climates.
NOTE 2—Stagnation conditions are a normal occurrence for solar
collectors, for example, during operation when the storage is fully
charged; when the collectors are initially installed, before system start-up;
or when the system is shut down for maintenance or seasonal consider-
ations such as heating only systems in the summer.
4. Weathering Box Test Fixture
4.1 Weathering Box Test Fixture, consisting of a box, rails,
a box top, a glazing frame, and adhesive tapes. The weathering
box test fixture should be constructed in accordance with Figs.
1-5.
4.1.1 The box and box top should be made in metal that is
suitably resistant to corrosion encountered in the exposure
environment.Aweep hole should be drilled at the lower end of
the bottom of the box to provide drainage and to minimize
moisture accumulation.
NOTE 3—The box top is intended to protect the edges of the test
specimen in contact with the box from reaching excessively high
temperatures, to minimize exposure of the adhesive to sunlight, and to
minimize moisture penetration into the exposure test fixture.
4.1.2 The box interior shall be a flat black nonselective
NOTE 1—Make: 4 per box.
coating having an absorptance of not less than 0.90 after
NOTE 2—Material: metal suitably corrosion-resistant for exposure. A
exposure. Organic absorber coatings should be heated in an
typical material would be 24-gage galvanized steel.
oven at 150°C (302°F) for 24 h before the test fixture is 1
NOTE 3—Dimension tolerance 61mm(6 ⁄16 in.).
asssembled. This should minimize outgassing, which results
FIG. 2 Natural Weathering Box—Rolls
NOTE 1—Make: 1 per box.
NOTE 2—Material: metal suit
...

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