Home solar power systems can be broken down into either solar heating systems or solar

electric systems.

To understand how both types of solar power systems work, you will need to understand...

What is Solar Energy?

Solar Heating Principles
Solar Electricity Principles

What is Solar Energy?

At it's simplest, solar energy is the light produced by the Sun. Sunlight is a form of radiant
energy that travels to the earth as electromagnetic waves.

In reality, the light we see is just a small part of the energy we receive from the Sun. The
radiant energy from the Sun covers the full breadth of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Using solar technology, we are able to "capture" the Sun's radiant energy and convert it to
either heat or electricity.

Find out more: What is Solar Energy?

Solar Heating Principles

Solar heating systems perform three basic functions...

Collecton: Radiant energy from the Sun is captured and converted to solar thermal
energy using solar collectors.
Storage: The solar thermal energy is stored using thermal mass, water tanks, or rock
bins.
Distribution: Distribution of the heat can be done with both active solar energy and
passive solar energy methods.

These three basic principles are used for solar space heating, solar water heating, and solar
pool heating systems.

Find out more: Solar Heating

Solar Electricity Principles

Solar electric systems use solar cells to convert the Sun's radiant energy into electricity. This
is done using a principle known as the photovoltaic effect.

Since a solar cell only generates about 1-2 Watts of power, it is necessary to combine them
into solar power panels in order to generate more power. Solar panels are in turn combined to
form solar arrays.
These solar panels and arrays are the key component of all residential solar power systems.
The other components of the system convert the generated DC electricity into AC electricity
so it can be used by the electrical appliances in your home.

Find out more: Solar Electricity

How Solar Energy Works

So, how does solar energy work?

Simply put, home solar power systems work by converting the Sun's electromagnetic energy
into either solar thermal energy or solar electricity.

Solar heating systems create solar thermal energy using solar collectors. The heat generated
by the solar collectors is used for solar water heating, solar space heating, or solar pool
heating.

Solar electric systems create solar electricity using solar power panels. The DC electricity
generated by the solar panels is converted to AC current and can be used by all of your
household appliances.

Solar Thermal Energy

Solar heating systems take advantage of some basic principles about how solar energy is
converted into solar thermal energy and the physical behavior of heat. The first principle
you need to understand about solar home heating is how solar energy is captured and
converted into heat.

Solar Energy Collectors

A solar energy collector captures the radiant energy from the Sun and converts it into heat.

How does a solar collector convert solar energy into heat?

By taking advantage of a process known as the greenhouse effect.

The basic idea is that the solar energy passes through a layer of glazed glass where it is
absorbed by the underlying material. The solar energy excites the molecules in the underlying
material resulting in heat. The glazing of the glass prevents the heat from escaping, thereby
effectively capturing the heat.

Once that heat is captured we can put it to good use! But in order to use it, you first need to
understand some of the basic principles of heat...

Basic Principles of Heat

Solar Collectors Generating
Solar Thermal Energy
Courtesy DOE/NREL, Credit - Alan Ford
What is heat?

Heat is simply a form of energy associated with the motion of molecules.

When the electromagnetic waves coming from the Sun hit an object, they excite the molecules
of that object causing them to move. This molecular movement is heat.

Heat is always moving from higher to lower temperatures until the temperatures are equal.
This is known as heat transfer. If you place two objects next to each other, the warmer object
will cool down as its heat is transferred to the cooler object. The cooler object in turn will
warm up.

This heat transfer is driven by the difference in temperatures of the objects. The heat transfer
rate is proportional to the difference in temperature. The larger the difference in temperature
between the objects, the faster the heat moves.

Understanding Heat Movement

To really understand solar thermal energy, you need to understand about heat movement.
This is especially important for passive solar energy applications.

There are three basic physical ways that heat moves...

Conduction
Convection
Radiation

Conduction is the transfer of heat through a solid material, or from one material to another
where their surfaces are touching. Heat is conducted more easily through a solid material than
through layers of material, even when the layers are held together tightly. This is important as
the conduction of heat through building materials is a major source of heat loss.

Convection is the transfer of heat by a moving fluid, usually air or water. Natural convection
is caused by the heating and cooling of the air in a room as it contacts objects. As air is
warmed, it expands resulting in it having a lower density than the cooler air around it. Since
its density is lower than the cool air, it will rise. As the air cools, it's density increases and it
will sink, starting the process all over again. This movement of air is known as a convection
current.

Radiation is the direct transfer of heat through space by electromagnetic waves coming from
a warmer object to a cooler object. Heat radiates in all directions from a warm material and
will warm all surfaces that are in direct line of sight of the material. Most objects that block
visible light will also block radiant energy. You've experienced this when you move into the
shade on a hot summer day to cool down. You are moving out of the direct line of sight of the
Sun's radiant energy, and as a result, you get cooler.

Solar Heating Applications

Now that you understand the basics about solar thermal energy, take a look at the different
solar heating applications that you can use for solar home heating...

Solar Space Heating

Solar Water Heating
Solar Pool Heating

Solar space heating uses solar thermal energy to heat the space inside a building. Heating with solar
energy can help you lower your home's heating bills and reduce your dependence on fossil fuels such
as oil, propane, and natural gas.

There are two general types of solar space heating systems, passive and active.

Passive Solar Space Heating

Passive Solar Heating with a Sunspace

Photo: Courtesy DOE/NREL, Credit - Donald Aitken

In homes that use passive solar energy for space heating, the whole house acts as a solar collector.
This is done by positioning and designing the home and the landscape elements in such a way as to
take optimal advantage of the solar energy that reaches the home.
For example, having most of your home's windows facing south will enable your home to
have maximum exposure to the Sun's radiant energy.

Storage of the solar heat that has been collected is possible using thermal mass. Thermal
mass is material that can absorb the heat, store it, and then slowly release it after the sun sets.
Materials such as brick walls, concrete slabs, and tile floors are examples of thermal mass.

Distribution of the heat throughout the house is handled by natural means through
convection, conducton, and radiation.

Active Solar Space Heating

Active Solar Heating with Flat-Plate Collectors

Photo: Courtesy DOE/NREL, Credit - Christopher Drake

Homes with active solar energy systems for space heating use mechanical equipment such as pumps,
fans, and blowers to help with the collection, storage, and distribution of heat throughout the house.

Active solar space heating systems use solar collectors to capture the Sun's energy. There are
two basic types of active solar heating systems based on the type of fluid heated inside the
solar collector: liquid systems and air systems.

Liquid Systems
The solar collectors used in liquid space heating systems are the same as those used for domestic
solar water heating. The most common type of solar collector used is a flat-plate collector, but
evacuated tube and concentrating collectors are also used.

To capture the solar energy, a heat-transfer fluid, such as water or antifreeze, is circulated
through the solar collector by a circulating pump. As the fluid flows through the collector it is
heated by the Sun. A controller is used to operate the pump such that the heat transfer fluid's
temperature is only increased by 10-20 degrees F.

The solar heat captured in the heat-transfer fluid is then stored in water tanks or the thermal
mass of a radiant slab system. In water tank storage systems, a heat-exchanger is used to
transfer the heat from the heat-transfer fluid to the water in the tank.

There are several ways the solar thermal energy can be distributed throughout your home.
They all use the same basic principle of circulating heated water through pipes, then along the
way, the water transmits its heat and returns to the storage tank as cooler water ready to be
reheated.

Here are some of the distribution methods you can use with liquid systems...

Radiant Slab Systems circulate solar heated fluid through radiant tubing that is embedded
within a concrete slab. The heat radiates from the slab to warm your home. The slab is also
used as thermal mass to store the heat.
Hot-Water Baseboards heat space using both radiation and convection. Hot water is piped to
"fin tube" baseboard units. The fins increase the surface area for heat dissipation which
makes the units more efficient.
Central Forced Air Systems can also take advantage of liquid systems by having a liquid-to-air
heat exchanger placed in the air-return duct prior to the furnace. This will preheat the air to
reduce the amount of energy that the furnace will need to use in heating the air to the
desired temperature.

Air Systems
The solar collectors used in solar air heating systems use air as the fluid for capturing the solar
thermal energy and transferring that heat to your living space.

In the most common setup, the collector draws cool air from the house, heats it, and returns
the now heated air to the living space. This is called a closed-loop system.

The other type of setup is called an open-loop system. Open-loop systems draw in cold
outdoor air, heat it, and then transfer it to the living space.

For residential systems, closed-loop systems are your best bet. According to the U.S.
Department of Energy, air entering a closed-loop system at 70 degrees F is typically warmed
an additional 70 to 90 degrees. In comparison, air flowing through an open-loop system is
only heated an additional 20 degrees F.

Distribution of the heated air is handled by fans or blowers. A temperature sensor inside the
collector monitors its internal temperature. When it reaches 110 degrees F, it sends a signal to
a thermostat inside the home. If the temperature inside the home is below the desired level, it
turns on the fan.

When the internal temperature of the collector falls to 90 degrees, or the living space reaches
the desired temperature, the thermostat turns off the fan.

Storage of the solar thermal energy is handled with thermal mass inside the home. During
the day, the thermal mass is absorbing the heat provided by the solar air heating system. At
night, the thermal mass will slowly radiate the heat it collected into the living space. The more
thermal mass, the longer the home will stay warm after the Sun sets.

Storage can also be handled with rock bins. A blower circulates the warm air from the
collectors to a bin of rocks which will absorb most of the heat. When the home requires heat,
it is pulled from the rock bin. However, one of the challenges with rock bins is that they must
be kept dry to avoid mold, mildew, and insects. This is one of the main reasons why this type
of storage is rarely used today.
What Are You Waiting For?
Solar space heating systems can significantly reduce your heating bills. In addition, they will also
reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that you produce from using fossil fuels. A definite Win-Win
scenario.

With a number of solar energy tax credits, rebates, and grants available to reduce your
implementation costs...

What are you waiting for?

Solar water heating uses solar thermal energy to heat your household water.

If your household is like most, about 15-30 percent of your energy use goes to making sure
you have hot water. That's significant, but there's help...

Installing a solar water heating system can save you thousands of dollars over the life of the
system, which could be 40 years! On top of that, the value of your home will increase the
moment your system is installed.

So if you are looking for an energy efficient water heater, you should definitely consider your
solar energy options.

All solar energy water heating systems perform the same basic functions...

Gather heat in a solar collector

Transfer the heat to the water supply
Store the heated water until ready to use

There are two types of solar energy water heating systems to handle these basic functions,
passive solar energy systems and active solar energy systems.

Passive Solar Water Heating

Passive solar energy heating systems do not use any electric components or pumps to
circulate the water through the system.

Two types of passive solar energy water heater systems are thermosiphon systems and batch
heaters.
Thermosiphon
A thermosiphon system has the storage tank located above the solar collectors. This allows it
to take advantage of a principle known as natural convection.

Natural convection is based on the fact that warm water rises and cold water sinks. This
phenomenon occurs due to the difference in the density of the warm water and the cold water.
The cold water has a higher density, or is heavier, so it sinks.

Natural convection creates a flow of water through the system. As the cold water sinks to the
bottom of the storage tank, it flows back to the solar collectors to be warmed up. Once
warmed up, it naturally rises, flowing back to the storage tank to be used by the household or
recirculated to the solar collector if it cools down before being used.

A batch heater is simply a water storage tank, usually painted black, that is placed inside of
an insulated collector box that has a glazed glass cover to allow sunlight to hit the water tank.
The water pressure in the home's plumbing controls the flow of the water to the faucets.
Because the storage tank is inside the solar collector, these systems are also known as
integrated-collector-storage (ICS) systems.

Batch Heater
Photo: Courtesy DOE/EERE
Active Solar Water Heating
Active solar water heating systems use pumps to circulate the water or heat-transfer fluid
through the system. There are two types of active solar energy water heater systems, closed-
loop and open-loop systems.

Closed-Loop Solar Water System

Photo: Courtesy DOE/EERE
In a closed-loop system, a heat transfer fluid is used. The heat transfer fluid is usually a
water-antifreeze mixture. After the fluid is heated in the solar collectors, it is pumped to a
storage tank where a heat-exchanger transfers the heat from the fluid to the household water.

A closed-loop system is also known as an "indirect" system since the household water is
heated by the heat transfer fluid and not directly in the solar collector. This system is suitable
for areas that experience freezing conditions.

In an open-loop system, household water is heated in the solar collector and pumped to a
storage tank. The heated water is then piped to faucets for use by the household.

An open-loop system is also known as a "direct" system since the household water is heated
directly in the solar collectors. Since this system uses regular household water directly in the
collector, it should only be used in areas that do not experience freezing conditions.

A Great Solar Investment

Installing a solar water heating system for your home will cost you several thousand dollars.
But with the increase in your homes value and reduced utility bills, the system will more than
pay for itself within a few years.

You also won't find a more energy efficient water heater system than solar energy. When you
add in the positive impact this will have on our environment, it's clear that this is a great
investment for homeowners!
Swimming pools are expensive investments for your home. They contribute to your homes
landscape and value. But most importantly, they provide a relaxed environment for recreation
and fitness.

A solar pool heating system can help you get the most from your swimming pool investment.
In addition to providing more time for you and your family to enjoy the pool, it will save you
money! These systems will generally pay for themselves in two to five years when replacing
gas or electric pool heating systems.

How Solar Pool Heating Works

Solar Pool Heating System

There are several components to a solar pool heating system...

Solar Collectors
Diverter Valve
Differential Controller
Piping

Additionally, your pools existing pump, filter, and check valve are also part of the system.

The swimming pool water is directly heated by pumping it through a solar collector. This is
the same principle that is used an open-loop solar water heating system. However, due to the
larger volume of water, the lower temperature requirements, and seasonal use pattern, the
collectors used for pool heating are simpler and less expensive than those used for solar water
heating.

A solar pool collector is simply a black absorber plate which converts the Sun's radiant energy
into heat. The absorber plate has parallel tubes, called risers, running through it. The risers are
connected at each end by manifolds. The manifolds are the inlet and outlet pipes to the
collector.
The diverter valve is used to direct the flow of water through the system. If the water needs
to be heated, the diverter is opened and it will send the water to the collectors. Otherwise, it
will close in order to bypass the pool collectors and circulate the water back to the pool.

A differential controller determines whether the diverter valve should be opened or closed.
The controller measures the temperature of the water in the pool and the water in the solar
collectors. If the temperature in the collectors is at least 4 degrees F higher than the pool water
and the pool is below the desired temperature set by the homeowner, the controller opens the
diverter valve.

With those components in place, you now have a solar heated pool!

But, to really take advantage of this heating system, it is important to use a pool cover.

Why Pool Covers Are Important

Did you know that evaporation accounts for 70% of a pool's total heat loss?!!!

The best way to minimize heat loss due to evaporation is to use a pool cover. There are a
couple of different types to consider.

The first type of pool cover is a solar blanket. These covers are similar to the bubble wrap
used as packing protection. In addition to reducing heat loss due to evaporation, their
transparent design helps to collect and trap solar thermal energy. This can help the pool stay
an extra 5-10 degrees F warmer. This type of simple pool cover can be purchased for around
$100 to $200, depending on the size needed.

Vinyl covers are a second type. These are more durable than solar blankets, but are also more
expensive. You can find insulated and uninsulated vinyl covers. Since they are heavier than
the bubble covers, you will probably want to get a reel to help roll the cover up. This will
make the placement and removal of the cover easier. This type of pool cover ranges in price
from a couple of hundred dollars to over $1000, depending on size, type of cover, and type of
reel.

Investing in a pool cover is important if you want to get the most out of your pool's solar
heating system and extend your swimming season.

Extend Your Swim Season With Solar Pool Heating

Extend your summer fun
with solar heating!
A heated pool increases the amount of time each year that you and your family can enjoy your
pool.

By using the Sun to heat your pool, not only do you increase your fun, but you decrease your
costs!

Solar thermal collectors are used to convert the solar energy we receive from the Sun into
solar thermal energy. Solar thermal energy is simply the energy created when sunlight is
converted into heat.

Don't confuse solar thermal collectors with solar panels. Solar power panels, also known as
solar modules or solar cells, convert solar energy into solar electricity.

Basic Principles
So how do collectors convert the radiant energy we receive from the Sun into heat?

Solar Energy Collectors on a Roof

When the radiant energy from the Sun reaches an object, the object absorbs some of that
energy. The absorbed energy excites the molecules in the object causing them to move. This
movement of molecules is heat.

There are a two basic things most solar thermal collectors do to take advantage of this basic
physical reaction in order to increase the amount of heat produced and captured...

Increase solar energy absorption by using dark coatings on the absorbing material of
the collector. Dark-colored objects absorb more energy than light-colored objects.
Reduce heat loss by using insulation, air and vacuum spaces, or glazing.

And once the heat is captured it is transferred to a fluid, either liquid or air, that is flowing
through the collector.

Types of Solar Thermal Collectors

There are three basic types of solar thermal collectors...
 Flat Plate Solar Collector: The most common type of collector. Used for both solar
water heating and solar space heating.
Evacuated Tube Solar Collector: Used for solar water heating. Best choice for
extreme cold conditions or when higher temperatures are needed (above 200 degrees
F).
Swimming Pool Solar Collector: Used for solar pool heating. Able to quickly and
efficiently heat a large amount of water to low heat temperatures. Most pools are kept
around 80 degrees F.

From solar pool heating systems to solar water heating systems, active solar energy is a cost
effective way for homeowners to take advantage of solar energy. This solar energy
technology is called "active" because you are "actively" gathering and using energy from the
sun for your solar home heating needs.

Active Solar Energy for Your Heating Needs

Photo: Courtesy DOE/NREL, Credit - James Jones

How does active solar differ from passive solar energy?

There are two major differences between active and passive solar energy...

Active solar uses special boxes called solar collectors to capture the solar energy and convert
it into heat. Passive solar uses the design of the home to capture solar energy.
Active solar uses mechanical systems such as pumps or fans to distribute the solar thermal
energy captured from the sun. Passive solar doesn't use mechanical systems.

Benefits of Active Solar Energy

Learn More...

Solar Water Heating--A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Water and Space Heating Systems
The Complete Handbook of Solar Air Heating Systems
Active Solar Collectors and Their Applications

Some of the main benefits of active solar are...

It can be used on your existing home regardless of its orientation or design.

It produces more solar thermal energy for your home than passive solar energy.
The heat energy produced can easily be used throughout your home.
 It reduces your electricity requirements.

In other words...

It allows you to maximize your home's solar heating potential!

Active Solar Energy System Components

Active solar technology systems have three main components...

Solar Energy Collection is done with solar collectors. The most common collector is the flat-
plate collector, which is simply a glass covered, insulated box. Inside the box there are black
absorber plates which absorb the solar energy and convert it into heat. The heat energy is
then transferred to a fluid, usually water or air, that flows through the collector. This
determines whether the system is liquid-based or air-based.
Solar Energy Storage can be done with water tanks or thermal mass for liquid-based
systems. For air-based systems, solar energy storage can be done with rock bins that hold the
heated air.
Solar Energy Distribution is based on the type of system used. Liquid-based systems will use
pumps, radiant slabs, central forced air, or hot-water baseboards for distribution. Air-based
systems will use fans and ducts to move the heated air.

Types of Active Solar Energy

There are three types of active solar applications that you can use in your home...

Active Solar Space Heating

Active Solar Water Heating
Active Solar Pool Heating

Active Solar Space Heating

To heat the air inside your home, active solar space heating uses mechanical equipment such as
pumps, fans and blowers to help collect, store, and distribute the heat throughout your home.

These systems can be either liquid-based or air-based...

Liquid-based systems will use large water tanks or thermal mass for heat storage.
Distribution is handled with radiant slab systems, central forced air systems, or hot-water
baseboards.
Air-based systems will use thermal mass or rock bins to hold the heated air for storage.
Using ducts and blowers, the hot air is then distributed throughout the home.

Active Solar Water Heating

To heat your home's water, active solar water heating uses pumps to circulate the water or heat-
transfer fluid through the system.

There are two types of active solar water heating systems, indirect systems and direct
systems...
 Indirect systems use a heat transfer fluid which is usually a water-antifreeze mixture. After
the heat-transfer fluid is heated in the solar collectors, it is pumped to a storage tank where a
heat-exchanger transfers the heat from the fluid to the household water. This type of system
is also known as a "closed-loop" system.
Direct systems heat the actual household water in the solar collectors. Once heated, the
water is pumped to a storage tank and then piped to faucets for use in your home. Since this
system uses regular household water in the collectors, it should only be used in areas that do
not experience freezing conditions. This type of system is also known as an "open-loop"
system.

Active Solar Pool Heating

To heat the water for your pool, active solar pool heating uses pumps to circulate your pool water
through solar collectors for heating and then back to your pool. Your pool is used as the storage
medium for the heated water so there isn't any need for water storage tanks.

Using active solar pool heating can extend your family's swim season while reducing your
pool heating costs.

Active Solar Energy - A Smart Choice

Whether you're interested in solar space heating, solar water heating, or solar pool heating, active
solar energy can help you take full advantage of solar heating.

Use active solar technology to maximize your solar potential while reducing your home's
heating costs!

The future of solar energy includes passive solar. Passive solar power can be used to heat, cool, and
light your home. It uses your home's features to reduce or eliminate mechanical heating and cooling
and artificial lighting. As a result, your energy costs are reduced and your home is naturally
comfortable.

The main difference between active and passive solar energy is that with passive solar you
don't use mechanical systems.

The collection, storage, and distribution of the solar energy is all natural! In order to do this
successfully, you will need to put some thought into the design elements of your passive solar
house.

Passive Solar Design

A Passive Solar House
Photo: Courtesy DOE/NREL, Credit Pamm McFadden

There are several basic design principles that you can use to take advantage of passive solar energy.
How they are applied will depend on the specific climate and location you live in.

Orientation: Depending on your climate, your house will need to be positioned to take
advantage of the sun's rays for heating or to minimize their impact for cooling as well as to
take advantage of prevailing winds.
Shading: Shading is important for controlling the temperature and the natural lighting of the
home. Shade can be provided by the structural elements of the home as well as by the
landscape.
Insulation: Your home's insulation is critical for maintaining a warm home in the winter and a
cool home in the summer.
Thermal Mass: Thermal mass allows your home to store the heat generated during the day
so that it can slowly be released after the sun sets.
Windows: Properly designed windows will ensure your home is comfortable year-round.
When properly designed, your home will be cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and you
will have plenty of daylighting.
Ventilation: Designing your home to take advantage of natural ventilation can keep it cool
during the summer.

Passive Solar Applications

The three applications of passive solar energy are...

Passive Solar Heating

Passive Cooling
Daylighting

Passive Solar Heating

A Green Journey...

See how Gina is rebuilding her sunroom to take advantage of passive solar heating.

Follow her every step as she transforms her "energy-guzzling" 1950s house into an energy-
efficient green home at www.my-green-home-project.com.
Passive solar heating is a type of solar space heating.

Passive solar heating can be accomplished by...

Orienting your home so that the majority of it's windows face south
Sizing your windows for optimal heat gain and making sure you have the right type of
windows
Utilizing thermal mass to absorb the solar energy entering the windows for release during
the night
Insulating your home to minimize heat loss

Passive Cooling
Passive cooling is a type of solar cooling.

The main idea behind passive cooling is to minimize the impact the summer sun has on
your home. This can be accomplished by...

Orienting your home and landscape so it can take advantage of cooling breezes
Designing your home to minimize barriers to air paths through the home to allow for natural
ventilation
Using the right size and type of windows in order to minimize the heat gain in the summer
and that enable ventilation by opening
Using both structural features and landscaping to create shading
Insulating your home to maintain a comfortable temperature

Daylighting
Daylighting is a type of solar energy lighting.

Daylighting is simply the use of natural light to illuminate your home. Good daylighting
brings a pleasing quality to the rooms in your home while reducing your home's electricity
costs.

Successful daylighting is accomplished by...

Positioning and sizing your windows to allow for sufficient natural light to enter your home
while accounting for heat gain, heat loss, glare, and the available sunlight throughout the day
Using exterior shading to diffuse the sunlight

Website : http://www.solar-energy-at-home.com/solar-collector.html