Hi Paul,
My main question regards the definition of total system flow rate in the Solar Water Heating model. Is the total system flow rate parameter the sum of the flow through each collector in parallel, or is it the flow through just one of the collectors? The reason I ask is that we are trying to run a parametric study to find the optimal flow rate, and we are getting very low flows for an 8 collector system (1 gpm or less). 1 gpm divided between 8 collectors is not a lot, but if the total system flow rate parameter is the flow through an individual collector, then it makes a bit more sense.
A note in the help page also says that “Collectors are assumed to be flat plate collectors plumbed in parallel, with uniform flow through each collector at the tested flow rate.” Is the saying that the tested flow is the flow through the collectors? If so, what is the total system flow rate parameter determining?
I have read all of the documentation available for this model, and it still is not clear to me.