Solar thermal collector
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A solar thermal collector absorbs sunlight to provide heat. These type of collectors are generally used in solar power plants where solar heat is used to generate electricity by heating water to produce steam and driving a turbine connected to the generator. There are various types of thermal collectors, such as Solar Parabolic, Solar Trough, Solar towers etc. It is generally seen that solar thermal power is more efficient than Solar cells. Highest known efficiency of solar thermal system is 30%.
Types
1. Flat Plate: This is the most common type of Solar Thermal collector. An insulated box containing a black metal sheet with built in pipes is placed in sun with an over head water tank. Solar energy heats up water in the pipes and it circulates through the tank automatically by convection. It is generally used in hotels and homes. See Solar hot water2. Box Type: A common Solar Cooker is a box type collector. It is a metal box open from top, and insulated from sides with an equally sized mirror hinged to it (like a simple box with a mirror attached to the underside of the cover). It cooks and bakes well!
3. Parabolic Trough: This type of collector is generally used in solar power plants. A mirror shaped like a parabolic trough is used to concentrate Sunlight on an insulated tube (Dewar tube) placed at the focal point, containing coolant which transfers heat from the collectors to the boilers in the power station.
4. Parabolic Dish: It is the most powerful type of collector which concentrates Sunlight at the focal point. It is generally used in Solar furnace and Solar power plant. A stirling engine is placed at the focus of the dish which converts heat into electricity. See [Knowing Parabolic Concentrators] and [Concentrating Solar power overview]
5. Power Tower: It is a large tower surrounded by small rotating (tracking) mirrors called heliostats. These mirrors align themselves and focus sunlight on the receiver at the top of tower, collected heat is transferred to a power station below.
See also
References
External links
- [Sorbtion Materials for Application in Solar Heat Energy Storage]
- [Solar Energy Blog] Discuss new and out-of-the-box ideas on Solar energy and see how our future depends upon Solar Thermal power.
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