Mathematical framework for predicting solar thermal build-up of spectrally selective coatings at the Earth’s surface

A transient finite element thermal model is formulated valid for surface coatings on any substrate material and based on the continuum conduction equations with solar loading as a heat source. The model allows cooling to be applied at outer surfaces of the body, by natural convection and accounts for ambient radiative heat loss. Hemispherical spectral reflectivities are obtained for various polymer-based coatings on a steel substrate using spectrophotometers in the 0.1 μm to 25 μm wavelengths. A time-dependent solar irradiation energy source (blackbody equivalent) is applied to an object with spectrally diffuse outer surfaces, and the incoming heat flux is split by a band approximation into reflected and absorbed energy and finally integrated over the complete spectrum to provide thermal source terms for the finite element model.