The flat plate solar systems for these four dormitories, installed in 1984, provide about 57 percent of the annual load. This solar project consists of several separate systems, the largest one having approximately 10,000 square feet of solar collectors. The entire project uses almost 34,000 square feet of collectors.
All systems are closed loop, using propylene glycol as the heat transfer fluid.
The storage tanks are mounted on concrete bases outside the buildings. The collectors are Heliodyne model Gobi, flat plate collectors, which feature black chrome selective surface on the all-copper absorber. They are single glazed and have bronze anodized aluminum extrusion frames. Some are ground mounted on two-tiered steel racks. Others are mounted on standard Heliodyne aluminum racks on flat roofs, and some are mounted parallel to tilted roofs.