Examples of integrated storage collector (ICS) of polymeric materials are displayed in Fig. 9 (a) shows an ICS with polypropylene casing and transparent insulation of cellulose triacetate. The ICS in (b) has a moulded storage container in polyethylene, glazing in polycarbonate and heat ex­changer in copper. Example (c) is a recent Brazilian ICS product with polymeric components and available in four different sizes. The ICS system in (d) consists of a cylindrical tank under a trans­parent dome of PMMA with an inner, upper shell of PC and an outer, rear shell of HD-PE. The storage tank is of stainless steel with selective coating and has reflectors of aluminium to the sides and below. A recent development is a glazed “solar store”, an inflatable, rollable take-away unit with 30 l volume, generally for DHW preparation and particularly for camping and caravanning holidays or for hot water preparation in remote locations (e).

2.2 Collector frame

The flexibility in design and shaping due to polymer processing techniques, low weight and easy installation are some of the major advantages of polymeric materials for collector frame and cas­ings. Fig. 10 (a) illustrates a deep-drawn collector casing in PC with bracket anchor for collector mounting. Example (b) shows a collector corner profile of glass-fibre reinforced plastics and ex­ample (c) collector-frame profiles in wood plastic composites. A collector with metal-based ab­sorber in form of a building-integrated roof tile of glass fibre reinforced plastics (UP+GD+MD) is presented in example (d). Within Subtask A of IEA-SHC Task 39 many other structural designs of polymeric applications for solar collectors have been reported, e. g. fittings, manifolds, applications at prototype level and patented ideas.