How does convection heat transfer impact the performance of solar collectors?

Convection heat transfer occurs when fluids (such as air or water) move over the surface of the solar collector, carrying heat away from the absorber plate. Convection heat transfer can significantly reduce the performance of solar collectors, especially at high temperatures. To minimize convection heat transfer losses, solar collectors are often designed with features such as fins, tubes, or channels to reduce fluid flow and promote laminar flow.