What is the Solar Thermal Collector multi-solver?

Solar Thermal Collector is a guided workflow that chains 2 individual PolySim solvers into one end-to-end analysis, piping each result into the next step.

Yes. Every step runs entirely in your browser using real numerics — no install, no account, no cloud cost. Custom or private solver packs are available as a paid service.

Fluids & Energy Pack · Multi-Solver

Solar Thermal Collector

Irradiance & losses. This multi-solver chains 2 solvers into a single guided workflow — run each step in order and carry the result forward.

Workflow steps

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Solar Panel

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Solar PV SystemLive

panels to kilowatt-hours

Controls

Presets

Panel area (m²)

Panel efficiency (%)

Peak sun hours/day

Tilt angle (°)

A solar array's output is its rated power (area × efficiency at 1000 W/m²) multiplied by the peak sun hours your location receives — the equivalent full-intensity hours per day. Tilt matters too: aiming the panels near your latitude maximizes annual yield. Real systems lose a bit more to heat, wiring, and inverters.

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Data Inspector

System rating4.0 kW

Daily energy19.2 kWh

Annual energy6996 kWh

Homes powered0.7

Governing equation

P = η A G = 0.20 \times 20 \times 1000 = 4000 W

Reading this result: A 4.0 kW array in 5-sun-hour sun yields about 19.2 kWh/day — roughly 0.7 average homes.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

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Thermal Resistance

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Composite Wall Heat TransferLive

R-value & U-value

Controls

Presets

Drywall (mm)

Insulation (mm)

Brick (mm)

Inside temp (°C)

Outside temp (°C)

Heat flows through a wall like current through resistors in series. Each layer's thermal resistance is its thickness over its conductivity; adding them gives the total R-value, and the heat flux is the temperature difference divided by it. Insulation, with very low conductivity, dominates the R-value — the steep temperature drop shows where it does its work.

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Data Inspector

Total R-value2.71 m²K/W

U-value0.37 W/m²K

Heat flux9.6 W/m²

Governing equation

R = \sum \frac{L _{i}}{k _{i} A} = 2.71 \frac{m ^{2} K}{W}, Q = \frac{Δ T}{R} = 9.6 \frac{W}{m ^{2}}

Reading this result: The insulation layer carries the most thermal resistance, so the temperature falls most steeply across it. A total R-value of 2.71 m²K/W lets 9.6 W/m² flow for this 26°C difference.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Solar Thermal Collector multi-solver?: Solar Thermal Collector is a guided workflow that chains 2 individual PolySim solvers into one end-to-end analysis, piping each result into the next step.
Is it free to use?: Yes. Every step runs entirely in your browser using real numerics — no install, no account, no cloud cost. Custom or private solver packs are available as a paid service.