根据集热器的物理描述来估计平板太阳能集热器的性能是一项繁琐的计算，通常采用数值计算，即计算机技术（参考文献1、2和3）。对于试图选择收集器的设备规范人员或设计工程师来说，可用的技术并不实用，需要一种更简单的方法。希望这里描述的方法能够满足需要。美国国家标准局（National Bureau of Standards）提出了太阳能集热器的测试程序，该程序已被集热器制造商普遍接受。如果此类测试数据可用，则应使用这些数据。然而，必须小心，因为在不同测试设施的同一采集器上获得的测试数据存在显著差异。 这里给出的列线图简单而准确地估计了采集器的性能，足以供那些想要比较不同类型采集器或确定特定采集器性能的人通用。预计太阳能集热器的设计师也会发现它很有用，因为它提供了一种工具来评估拟议设计变更预期的性能变化。引文:新墨西哥州阿尔伯克基市阿什雷学报第84卷第2部分

Estimating the performance of a flat plate solar collector from the physical description of the collector is a cumbersome calculation and is often done with numerical, i.e., computer, techniques (Refs. 1, 2 and 3). For the equipment specifier or design engineer trying to choose a collector, the available techniques are not very practical and a simpler method is needed. It is hoped that the method described here will meet the need. The National Bureau of Standards has proposed a test procedure for solar collectors which is becoming generally accepted by collector manufacturers. Where such test data are available they should be used. However, care must be exercised because significant differences exist in test data obtained on the same collector at different test facilities. The nomogram presented here estimates collector performance simply and accurately enough for general use by those who want to compare different types of collectors or to determine the performance of a specific collector. It is expected that the designers of solar collectors will also find it useful since it provides a tool to evaluate the variation in performance to be expected from a proposed design change.