CHAPTER 2.

SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY

2019
Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

▷ Contents

2.1 What is solar energy?

2.2 Solar heat energy
2.3 Use of solar energy
2.4 Application technology of solar energy
2.5 Application of solar energy and classification of
system
2.6 Solar Thermal Energy Education Curriculum

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

2.1 What is solar energy?

All forms of energy reach on earth from sun.

How to use solar energy in general

Heat: solar power generation, solar heating

Light: lighting, photochemical cells
Indirect use: hydropower, wind, temperature difference power generation etc
Photosynthesis: the conversion of plants biomass

The world energy consumption (per year 400EJ) is only 0.01% of solar
energy receives by earth surface.

If find the way use the amount of solar energy reaching the earth sufficiently
then the world energy consumption can be replaced by 40 minutes of solar
energy

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

The Sun is composed primarily of the chemical elements hydrogen and

helium, they account for 73% and 24%.

13.9×105 km in diameter and consists of several gas layers. The internal temperature of the sun
reach 20×106 oK, the temperature of outermost layer same with the black body eradiation
temperature by 5,760 oK. In addition, the energy emitted per second from the sun is 3.8×1023kW, this
converted into a mass of 4.3×109kg/sec for energy consumption.

Solar energy will be delivered in the form of

radiant energy which it divided into two types
depending on the form radiant energy reaching
the surface.

Direct insolation reaches the surface with

direct light directivity which have no scattering,
refraction, polarization in the atmosphere

Scattering insolation is one form of radiant

energy have no directivity since scattered by
air particles, scattered by moisture, air particle,
pollutant in the atmosphere
Fig. 2-1 Structure of the Sun
Full insolation
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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

Fig. 2-2 The electromagnetic spectrum

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

2.2 Solar heat energy

Available solar energy reaching the surface is in low density energy
(below than 1,100 W/m2) and only limited in daytime and wide temporal
fluctuation.

The solar radiation energy reaching the earth surface used for thermal
energy is ranges along visible ray.

Radiation intensity[per unit area W]

Visible ray

Infrared

Ultraviolet

Wavelength

Fig. 2-3 The wavelength distribution of sunlight

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

Direct insolation reaches the surface with Scattering insolation is one form of radiant energy
direct light directivity which have no scattering, have no directivity since scattered by air particles,
refraction, polarization in the atmosphere scattered by moisture, air particle, pollutant in the
atmosphere

Fig. 2-4 Shape of sunlight reaching the surface

Table 2-1. Advantages and disadvantages of solar energy
Advantages
▶ Non–polluting, infinite quantity and cheap clean energy sources
▶ The dispersive energy sources that unequal geographic distribution
is insignificant compare to conventional fossil energy
▶ renewable energy sources can reduce carbon dioxide emissions to
meet global warming measures
Disadvantages
▶ Even that are advanced energy but low in
energy density
▶ Energy production are intermittent
▶ Stable supply is difficult for continued demand

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

Solar heat sources

Solar energy is an infinite amount of energy.

We cannot imagine how vast amount of energy from sun to the earth and it
will be maintained as the sun is there (about 50 billion years).

The amount of energy reflected from the Earth's atmosphere is 2.4×1,015

kcal/min or 1.7×1,014 kW dual scale is reflected in the atmosphere about
35%, 18% absorbed by the atmosphere to causing the wind and remained
47% will reach the earth.

The total amount for one year the Earth receives solar energy is about
20,000 times of the annual world energy consumption. The energy from Sun
to Earth by 1-2 weeks are equivalent whole fossil fuel energy reserves.

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

Germany

France

Italy

Spain Austria
Greece

Fig. 2-5 Europe's solar market

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

2.3 The use of solar energy

Absorb radiant energy from the sun and converts into heat energy use
directly or store for later use.

◈ Natural lighting solar building: from the purpose for energy savings, apply
solar energy in buildings.
◈ Hot water: used in bathrooms, swimming pools and golf club etc.
◈ Air conditioning and heating: use for air conditioning in summer
and except that for use heating and hot water.
◈ Solar power generation: generate high temperature steam by solar heat to
running the turbine and generator produce electricity.
◈ Industry process heat: use solar heat in industry processes and the
temperature range are quite extensive.

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

2.4 Application technology of solar energy

Table 2-2. Solar heat application system in buildings and commercial use
Key technology Element technology
▶ Heat collecting technology ▶ Develop lower price and high efficiency flat-plate type,
▶ Thermal storage technology vacuum tube type, CPC collectors
▶ Design technology of optimization system ▶ Advance coating technology and chemical heat store
material for storage tank
▶ Design centralized large-scale solar system

Table 2-3. Solar energy power generation system

Key technology Element technology
Solar concentrating technology Development of PTC, Dish, Power tower super high
temperature solar furnace
Power engine related technology Development of engine in solar power generation

Complex systemization technology
Solar fuel production technology
-Combination of solar power systems and the existing power
generation system,
-Solar heat, solar power, wind complex power generation
system
-High-temperature pyrolysis hydrogen production
-Development of catalyst for solar heat reaction

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

Table 2-4. Solar thermal application system for industry use medium and
high temperature heat source
Key technology Element technology
Power engine related technology -Optimal design and structural analysis of collector
-Concentrating and heat loss analysis of absorber
Intensive reflection technology Reflector manufacturing and coating technology
Industrial process heat technology Optimal design by each process
Solar heat desalination technology Evaporator design and manufacturing technology
Solar tracking and control technology -Solar tracking sensors
-Solar tracking control system and S/W development

Table 2-5. Affordable zero-energy solar house(ZeSH)

Key technology
Natural lighting solar technology
Air chamber solar heat collecting
technology
System integration, design and
construction techniques
Large scale complex technology
Element technology
- Development of natural light systems using multiple windows
- Development of integrated control system for movable shielding device
-Development of utilizing technology which make the apartment balcony
as solar greenhouse
- Development of packaged modular pneumatic solar collecting system
-ZeSH integrated design and performance evaluation
-ZeSH monitoring and feedback technology
-Development of large scale solar heating and hot water system
-Development of multiple-purpose solar heat, solar power, wind power

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

2.5 Application of solar energy and classification of system

Table 2-6. Application of solar energy and classification of system

Passive type Active type

Classification (low temperature Power
use/solar building) Residential Industrial
Generation
Temperature range Below 60 ℃ Below 100 ℃ Below 300 ℃ Over 300 ℃

Heat collector part Passive system -Flat plate collector -Evacuated tube -Dish collector
Air chamber collector -Evacuated tube collector collector -PTC collector
-CPC collector -PTC collector -Power tower
-CPC collector -Solar furnace
Heat storage part Heat store wall Low grade heat storage Moderate heat High heat
Trombe wall (sensible heat (latent heat, chemical) (chemical store)
, latent heat)
Application field Building heating -Building HVAC -Building HVAC -Solar power
-Hot water -Industrial process heat -Space application
-Agricultural -Wastewater treatment -Photochemistry
sector(drying ,heating) -Desalination

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

Configuration of solar heat system

▶ Solar collector: the device collecting energy from the sun and convert into heat
▶ Solar heat storage: Since the collecting time and colleting amount is not match with use
time and heat load time so this heat storage tank play as a buffer
▶ Application: supply storage solar heat effectively relay on secondary heat source in case of
insufficient supply
▶ Control devices: Collect, storage and supply solar energy and furthermore more play an
important role for performance and reliability of system

Control
device

Collect panel

Hot
water

Pump

Storage
Auxiliary boiler
Heat Pump tank
exchanger City
water

Collector parts Storage parts Application parts

Fig. 2-6 Composition of solar water heating system

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

Collector parts

Fig. 2-8 Antifreezing liquid

implantation method of closed system

Fig. 2-7 Antifreezing liquid

implantation method of open system

Fig. 2-9 Automatic draining method of

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

Storage parts

Fig. 2-10 Heat exchanger coil insertion method

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

Application parts

(b) Closed loop, Freeze-Protection

system

(a) Active open loop system

(c) Active indirect system

Fig. 2-11 Schematic diagram of solar heating system

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

Fig. 2-12 Flat-plat collector

Fig. 2-13 Evacuated tube collector

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

Fig. 2-14 PTC type collector

Fig. 2-15 Dish type collector

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

Design solar heat system

# Review the feasibility of solar heat application

# Select collector: collect temperature and outdoor temperature, solar insolation
# System configuration and connection with auxiliary heat source
# Solar collect area: solar dependency rate
# System control Economics ?
# Capacity and performance of the various component parts
- Heat exchanger
- Pump: flow rate System optimization
- Connection method with auxiliary heat source
- Stratification of heat storage tank temperature
- Piping system Thermal performance: Design program
# Improve thermal performance and safety
TRANSYS, ASOLiS, T-Sol

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

Considerations for solar system selection

# System stability (reliability): pressure, overheat, freeze and burst etc.

# Heat load type and operating temperature
- Necessity of heat storage
- Amplitude of heating temperature vibration
# System efficiency
# System scale
# Thermal performance
# Maintenance: presence of managers and others

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

Fig. 2-16 Solar system installation examples(1)

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

Fig. 2-17 Solar system installation examples(2)

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

Fig. 2-18 Solar system installation examples(3)

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

2.6 Solar Thermal Energy Education Curriculum

 Educational Objectives
- Understanding of the structure and operating principles of solar heat boiler
- Test and practice on the operation by collecting natural sunlight after installation of solar heat
collector in the outside
- Education on system control by controlling the system using the control system

 Educational Contents
1. Measurement and analysis a solar heat hot water boiler system using software
2. Configuration a solar heat hot water boiler system and performance measurement and analysis
3. Configuration a temperature control heat storage tank sequence control circuit of solar heat hot
water boiler system and operation
4. Configuration the difference control heat collecting circulation pump sequence control circuit of solar
heat hot water boiler system and operation
5. Configuration the heat storage/emission convertible circuit using 3-way valve of solar heat hot water
boiler system and operation
6. Configuration the changing of heat collecting material sequence control circuit of solar heat hot water
boiler system and operation
7. Configuration the heat transfer material of heat storage tank charging sequence control circuit of
solar heat hot water boiler system and operation
8. Configuration a auxiliary heater sequence control circuit of solar heat hot water boiler system and
operation

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Chapter 2. Solar Thermal Energy

2.6 Solar Thermal Energy Education Curriculum

Solar Heat Hot Water Boiler System Experiment Equipment

DAQ Software

Mechanical Device
with Control panel

 Solar radiation energy experiment using an artificial or natural solar lamp

 Calculating the rate of heat collection and measure efficient
 Utilizing other load with boiler by separating each part (Load & Boiler)
 Monitoring and saving of data during performance test
 Understand on the working principle of solar heating water boiler system
 Practice for load rate calculation of various heat exchangers

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Thank You !

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