PPolySim OS
For Educators · Solar Thermal Collector

Solar Thermal Collector for a fuel cell

Built for educators teaching it to a class. Drop a live demo into a lecture or assign it as a shareable link — no lab installs. Simulate a fuel cell live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.

Solar PV SystemLive

Controls

Presets

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.

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

System rating4.0 kW
Daily energy19.2 kWh
Annual energy6996 kWh
Homes powered0.7

Governing equation

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.

2

Thermal Resistance

open full solver →
Composite Wall Heat TransferLive

Controls

Presets

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.

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Total R-value2.71 m²K/W
U-value0.37 W/m²K
Heat flux9.6 W/m²

Governing equation

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.

or unlock everything with Pro →

More with Solar Thermal Collector

Frequently asked questions

Is this good for educators?
Yes — this version of "Solar Thermal Collector for a fuel cell" is framed for educators teaching it to a class. Drop a live demo into a lecture or assign it as a shareable link — no lab installs.
Do I need to install anything?
No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.