Solar energy water heating

Solar-thermal technology uses tracking mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver. In turn, the receiver absorbs solar energy as heat, warming a fluid that then drives a turbine generator. Most solar-thermal plants requite cooling water. 

Solar Thermal Collector A device designed to receive solar radiation and convert it into thermal energy. Normally, a solar thermal collector includes a frame, glazing and an absorber, together with the appropriate insulation. The heat collected by the solar thermal collector may be used immediately or stored for later use. Typical use is in solar hot water heating systems. Also, see Passive Solar and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). ... 

Existing programmers for energy development envisages increasing use of solar energy mainly for local hot water supply in summer season. Potential of solar energy for heat production is estimated at about 32 TWh. 

Swimming pool and rooftop water heaters can convert solar energy into heat with an efficiency of 50-70%. The efficiencies of electricity-generating solar collector systems are much lower. They operate at efficiencies from 5% to about 30%. 

Anon., Solar Hot Water Heating Systems Identification of Plastic Materials for Low Cost Glazings, PolyNEW, Inc., Subcontract TAR-9-29449-02 Report, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 2002. 

Soiar Distiiiation - The process of distilling (purifying) water using solar energy. Water can be placed in an air tight solar collector with a sloped glazing material, and as it heats and evaporates, distilled water condenses on the collector glazing, and runs down where it can be collected in a tray. 

Smart Matarials. Eck and co-workers (124) developed a smart material for solar energy management. It seems that the use of solar energy to heat water in some tropical areas results in water that is too hot. Usually, the water pipes to... 

Sodium nitrate is also used in formulations of heat-transfer salts for he at-treatment baths for alloys and metals, mbber vulcanization, and petrochemical industries. A mixture of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate is used to capture solar energy (qv) to transform it into electrical energy. The potential of sodium nitrate in the field of solar salts depends on the commercial development of this process. Other uses of sodium nitrate include water (qv) treatment, ice melting, adhesives (qv), cleaning compounds, pyrotechnics, curing bacons and meats (see Food additives), organics nitration, certain types of pharmaceutical production, refining of some alloys, recovery of lead, and production of uranium. 

Because water of depths below about 2 m does not absorb much solar radiation direcdy, the radiation is absorbed and converted to heat primarily in the basin floor, which thus should have high radiative absorptance in the solar radiation spectmm. It is also noteworthy that if the stUl is designed to have low heat losses to the ambient, and if the ambient temperature drops, distillation will continue for some time even in the absence of solar energy input, because the saline water may remain warmer than the condensing glass surface and thus continue evaporating. 

There are costs associated with loss of visibility and solar energy. These include increased need for artificial illumination and heating delays, disruptions, and accidents involving air, water, and land traffic vegetation growth reduction associated with reduced photosynthesis and commercial losses associated with the decreased attractiveness of a dingy communiW... 

Water vapor can be a climate warming force when it traps heat, or can cause either climate warming or cooling when it takes the form of clouds, which reflect incoming solar energy away from Earth. 

Tax credits were provided for solar water heating systems in response to the energy crisis. After tax credits expired, the solar water heater business declined drastically. The only segment of solar water heater market that has continued to have growth is the pool heater. 

When solar energy is available the diluted solution is regenerated to its original concentration in a regenerator, at temperatures of 70-80 °C. At this temperature water evaporates from the desiccant solution and is taken to the ambient by an air flow through the regenerator. The Lithium Chloride does not evaporate. It remains in the solution and in the cycle. Heat recovery for the air flow is used to keep up the thermal coefficient of performance. 

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