wire mesh

The use of perforated metal panels to extract solar energy for the daytime winter heating of occupied space in New Zealand has considerable potential. Experiments carried out using a modified Styleline profile metal sheet raised the air temperature flowing through the panel by almost 15oC. The outdoor test showed that the wire mesh optimum collector porosity was between 0.2% and 0.4%.The experiments also showed that the UTS collectors have the potential to transfer 60% of the incident radiation to the air stream. It was also recognised that reduced suction rates and high wind speeds will reduce this collector efficiency.The data currently generated by the analytical computer model predicts the performance of these collectors within a reasonable accuracy and this is a good guide to assess the benefits of UTS collectors. The model needs further improvements before it can be used to design more razor wire complex systems and to explore their commercial value in New Zealand.The exterior experiments will be resumed this winter for a range of corrugated roofing sheets profiles made by Dimond.