Tribhuvan University

Institute of Engineering

Lecture 2: Solar Thermal Technology

Basic Components of
Good Solar Hot Water
Systems
Tri Ratna Bajracharya, Ph.D.
Center for Energy Studies (CES)
Institute of Engineering/TU
Pulchowk, Lalitpur
 heat storage
with insulation
connection to
heat hot water tap
transport
system
air release thermostat

check
valve
valve
(blockable) backup heater
heat
p exchanger
or p um
t
l lec
co
cold water supply
pressure
release power
valve
(8 atm) supply
control unit
expansion
vessel
Forced-flow versus natural circulation
forced flow SHW systems
+ better performance
+ can be installed in large systems
+ allows independent location of collector and hot water tank
– requires more components
– needs electrical energy for pumping and control
– is more expensive

natural circulation (thermosiphon)

+ simple and require less components
+ work without active control equipment
+ cheaper
– not suitable for large systems
– less efficient
– storage tank must be located above the collect
Types of collectors and Selective coatings

1. Flat Plate
2. Vacuum tube
3. Concentratic tube
Flat-plate collectors
 SWH System Locally Made
Storage tank

Collector
Locally made SWH
Absorber types
 Open- versus closed-loop SHW
Closed loop systems
+ better performance – avoids air bubbles
+ Prevents siltation of the collectors
+ allows use of antifreeze
– Some temperature loss
– needs significantly more components
– more expensive
– more difficult to manufacture

Open loop
+ simple and require less components
+ Requires less tecnical skill
+ Cheaper and less sensitive to flaws
– not suitable for frost area
– not suitable for poor quality water
There are basically two types of coatings
black solar paint
+ easy to handle
+ absorber can be painted locally
+ good absorption of solar radiation
+ low costs
– high emission losses
selective coatings
+ high absorption of solar radiation
+ low emission losses
+ prefabricated absorber stripes exist on the market
– higher costs
– must be handles with care
Construction of a solar collector
The absorber coating
Construction of a solar collector
Casing
Materials
Øhardwood (resistant painting improves durability)
Øaluminum profiles
Øsheet metal casing (aluminum, steel)
Features
Øprotects the collector from the elements (rain, dust)
Ømust be rigid to avoid the break of the glass cover
Øall connections to the piping should be kept insulated
Ømust allow room for thermal expansion
Ømust provide adequate ventilation to avoid condensation
Construction of a solar collector
Insulation
Øinsulation of the back side is very important to
reduce heat losses and improve the efficiency
Øat least 5cm of a low conductivity insulator is
recommended
Ømineral wool and polyurethane foam is the most
common material
Øreflective lamination is often included between
layers of insulation
Construction of a solar collector
transparent cover

Why is a transparent cover necessary?

• protection of the absorber from the environment

• reduction of heat losses

special solar glass (4mm)

+ high mechanical resistance

+ high transparency for solar

radiation
– high weight and costs
normal glass (4mm)

– lower mechanical resistance

– lower trasparency
– high weight
+ lower costs

polycarbonate cover (3mm)

+ high resistance
+ less weight
– lower transparency
– costs?

plastic foil
+ light and cheap
– low resistance
– short life span
Collector Area sizing Thumb Rule

collectorarea reservoir size

4.5 m² (3 panels) 250 l reservoir
7.5 m² (5 panels) 400 l reservoir
10.5 m² (7 panels) 600 l reservoir
High efficiency collectors for process heat applications
The evacuated tube collector - examples
Evacuated tube collectors - examples
Compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) combined with
evacuated tube
Conclusions

Characteristics of a good collector:

Øselective absorber coating

Ølow heat capacity, high heat transfer coefficients
Øiron-free glass cover
Østiff and light casing
Øsufficient insulation of the back side
Øno thermal bridges at the connecting pipes

Two options available:

Øflat-plate collectors
Øevacuated tube collectors