Solar Thermal Energy

Renewable Energy

Gražvydas Kruopys

Study semester „Renewable Resources“ 2012 Lecturer: Thomas Eickhoff

Table of Content
 Why use solar thermal energy?
 Physics of Solar Thermal Energy
 Solar Collectors
 Solar Thermal Systems
 Storage of Energy
 Economic Efficiency
 Statistical Data

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Why use solar thermal
energy?

 Solar thermal energy is mostly used because of big

efficiency compared with other renewables.

 It is becoming cheaper than other alternatives.

 Solar thermal energy usage is environmentally

friendly.

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 To use solar thermal energy
are three different ways:

 The first method

collects the energy of
the sun to heat water
or air for direct use in
solar home heating.

http://www.china-solarheater.com/Split-Pressure-Solar-Water-
Heater-System-for-Heating-Freeze-resistant.htm
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 The second method
is used by large
power utilities to
indirectly create
electricity through
concentrated solar
heat energy.
http://www.pikeresearch.com/tag/concentrating-solar-power

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 The third method,
known as passive
solar, leverages energy
efficiency and the
design of a building to
regulate the amount of
solar energy it receives
in order to regulate it's
temperature.
http://cactusmusic.ca/systems.htm

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Physics of Solar Thermal

 The solar constant – S=1360W/m2.

 Portion of light that appears to come straight from the

sun – direct radiation.

 On a clear day, this can approach a power density of

1 kilowatt per square meter (1 kWm-2).

 Practical peak power densities are around 900 –

1000 watts per square meter.

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Physics of Solar Thermal (I)

The rate of heat energy flow depends on:

 The temperature difference between the two sides.

 The total area available for the flow

 The insulating qualities of the material.

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Physics of Solar Thermal
(II)
 To understand how heat loss occurs we need to look
at 3 mechanisms are involved in the transmition of
heat:

 Conduction;

 Radiation;

 Convection.

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Convection

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http://www.tangram.co.uk/TI-Polymer-
Plastic&Composite_Windows.html
U – Value

 U – Value is defined:

Heat flow through one squire meter = U–Value x

Temperature difference

 The Units in which U – values are expressed are thus

watts per square meter per degree Celsius
(Wm-2 °C-1 ).

The lower U – value, the better the insulation

performance.
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Solar Collectors

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Solar Collectors

http://www.solarhotwaterworks.com/page28/files/simple-drainback-schematic.jpg 13
 Solar Collectors
Stationary solar
collectors
Concentrating solar
collectors

http://energyinformative.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/solar-thermal-collectors.jpg

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http://blog.hasslberger.com/img/concentrated-solar-power.jpg
Stationary Collector Types

 1. Flat plate collectors (FPC);

 2. Evacuated tube collectors (ETC).
 3. Stationary compound parabolic
collectors (CPC);

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1. Flat plate Collectors (FPC)

http://www.amroofing.net/images/Flat_Plate_Collector.jpg

http://images.solarcontact.com/images/solar-heating/flat-plate-collector.jpg

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http://www.trimlinedesigncentre.com/e107_images/Flat_%20Plate_%20Solar_%20Collector.jpg
http://www.acrux.hu/sun/pic/sikkol/sikkoll4.jpg
Typical Flat Plate Collector
Scheme:

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How it works?

http://www.architecture.uwaterloo.ca/faculty_projects/terri/carbon-aia/images/flat-plate-collector.jpg

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Opperating temperature

Low 200˚C can be

temperature achieved due to
applications highly selective
up to 100˚C. coatings

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Various types of flat panel
solar collectors:

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Unglazed solar collectors

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http://www.solarworks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/2007-11-12-131-large.JPG
2. Evacuated Tube Collectors (ETC)

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http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00IBFaCdhZwWos/Evacuated-Tube-Solar-Collector-with-Keymark-WKSC-30-.jpg
Evacuated Tube Collectors (ETC)

Evacuated collectors consist of a heat pipe

inside a vacuum-sealed tube.

Good performance at high temperatures.

Collectors can operate at higher temperatures

than FPC.

Eefficiency is higher at low incidence angles

than FPC.
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ETC schemes:
1. Direct flow tubes 2. Heat pipe tubes

http://www.daviddarling.info/images/evacuated-tube_collector.gif

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Source: IORDANOU, 2009

Regular cleaning

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 3. Stationary compound
parabolic collectors (CPC);

http://andyschroder.com/images/EvacuatedTubes/100_1739.JPG

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http://www.psa.es/webeng/instalaciones/images/quimica_madrid_3.jpg
Schematic diagram of a
compound parabolic collector

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 These collectors are more useful as linear or trough-
type concentrators.

http://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0926337301003150-gr2.gif

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 Evacuated tubes with CPC-reflectors are also
commercialized by several manufacturers.

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http://www.evergreenenergy.ie/images/CPC_S_03.jpg
Effieciency Curves
 A comparison of the efficiency of various collectors at
irradiation levels of 500 and 1000 W/m2

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Effieciency Curves
 Final selection of a collector should be made only
after energy analyses of the complete system:

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Solar Thermal Systems

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 Thermosyphon Systems
(passive)

http://www.solarhotwaterquotes.com.au/images/thermosiphon2.jpg

http://images.cpbay.com/uploadfile/comimg/big/400L-Direct-Plug-Solar-Water-Heating-Thermosyphon-System-76423.jpg
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Thermosyphon Systems

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http://www.solarbook.ie/images/suntreksolar.gif
Direct circulation System
(active)

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Drain-down System (active)

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Indirect Water Heating Systems
(active)

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Drain-back System (active)

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Solar Pool Heating System

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http://www.purasol.co.cr/wp-content/uploads/TVSW-5-21-10-4.jpg
Solar Pool Heating System

Extremely simple.

Usually unglazed colectors are used.

Typically, the collector will be about half the

area of the pool it self.
The best result are achieved with pools that do not
have other forms of heating and are consequently at
relatively low temperatures (under 20˚C)
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Shcematic Diagram

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http://www.inyopools.com/Images/solar_plumbing_inground.jpg
Storage of Heat

Water heating

 38% of heat is absorbed by the oceans, 9% by the

continents and 24% by the atmosphere.

 Water is a good heat carrier!

 Specific heat of water - 4.187 kJ/kgK

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Storage of Heat (I)

There are two types of space heating:

 Using water as fluid;

 Using air as fluid.

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Economic Efficiency

 Solar thermal energy costs between 19-35 cents per

KWh in US (2004).

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http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2010/ph240/danowitz2/
 In Lithuania solar thermal energy costs – 3-14 euro
cents per kWh (2008).

 Solar thermal systems are rated in kWth (thermal

kW).

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Solar energy payback time

 The average of payback time is 5-9 years.

 Used for only hot water – 5-7 years;

 Used for hot water and house heating – 7-9 years;

 Used for hot water, house heating and pool heating –

5-6 years;

 Solar thermal system’s lifetime – about 20-25 years.

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The Feed-in Tariff (FIT)

Government subsidize until 30% of solar thermal

system cost.

http://www.theuglycow.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Euro-money.jpg
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Statistical Data

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DI6bhkm65Gg/TtUlOuP8M6I/AAAAAAAAACo/hRaJMcejGKI/s1600/NASA_Map_WorldSolarEnergyPotential_LowRes.jpg

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Installed Capacity
Worldwide

 The solar thermal collector capacity in operation

worldwide equaled 127.8 GWth corresponding to
182.5 million m2 at the end of the year 2006.

 102.1 GWth for by flat-plate and evacuated tube

collectors;

 24.5 GWth for unglazed plastic collectors;

 Installed air collector capacity was 1.2 GWth.

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Total Instaled Capacity:

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Total installed capacity of
solar water collectors:
Top 10 Countries

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Installed Capacity in Europe

 By the end of 2007, the solar thermal collector

capacity (flat-plate and evacuated tube collectors) in
operation in Europe equaled 15.3 GWth
corresponding to 21.9 million square metres.

 In this context it is remarkable that 70% (10.9 GWth)

of this collector area was installed in just three
countries: Austria, Germany and Greece.

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Installed Capacity in Germany

 The solar thermal market for glazed flat-plate and evacuated

tube collectors in Germany is well established, and has
experienced a constan growth since 2002.

 The German market is one of the main drivers of the overall

European solar thermal market.

 It is stimulated to a great extent by subsidies and other political

support mechanisms.

 With reference to the total capacity in operation of flat-plate and

evacuated tube collectors installed at the end of the year 2006
in Germany was 5,6 GWth.
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Solar Thermal Development
in Europe

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Solar Thermal Market in
the Reference Countries
 The solar thermal markets in the reference countries
are very different. Germany, Denmark and Austria
have well established markets, the Spanish market
has quickly developed in recent years, and while
Poland has a relatively small market, but it has a
significant potential.

 In absolute terms, Germany leads in the number of

installations Germany loses it‘s dominance however
when the installed capacity is calculated per
inhabitant.

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New Installations per year:

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World Market Leaders:

 With reference to the total capacity in operation of

flat-plate and evacuated tube collectors installed at
the end of the year 2006: China (65.1 GWth), Turkey
(6.6 GWth), Germany (5.6 GWth), Japan (4.7 GWth)
and Israel (3.4 GWth) are the leading countries.
 They are followed by Greece (2.3 GWth), Brazil (2.2
GWth), Austria (1.9 GWth), the USA (1.6 GWth) and
Australia (1.1 GWth).
 As can be seen from these figures, China is by far
the largest market, representing 64% of the world
market of flat-plate and evacuated tube collectors.

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References:
 Sorensen, Bent. „Renewable Energy: Its physics, engineering, environmental impacts,
economics and planing“. Third Edition. Burlington: Elsevier Academic Press, 2004.
 Boyle, Godfrey. „Renewable Energy: Power for Sustainable Future“. Second Edition.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.
 Kalagirou, Soteris. „Solar Thermal Collectors and Applications“. Nicosia: Higher Technical
Institute, 2004.
 AEE - Institute for Sustainable Technologie. „Potential of Solar Thermal in Europe“.
Bruxelles: Renewable Energy House, 2008.
 IORDANOU, GRIGORIOS. „Flat-Plate Solar Collectors for Water Heating with Improved
Heat Transfer for Application in Climatic Conditions of the Mediterranean Region“. Durham,
Durham University, 2009.
 http://www.b-es.org/sustainability/solar-thermal-guidance/
 http://www.solarbook.ie/solar_panel_types.html
 http://agrobasis.com/2012/01/price-per-kwh-of-solar-generated-electricity-to-drop-in-the-
next-years/
 http://www.solarbuzz.com/facts-and-figures/retail-price-environment/module-prices
 http://www.estif.org/fileadmin/estif/content/esttp/downloads/SRA/ESTTP_SRA.pdf
 http://www.b-es.org/sustainability/solar-thermal-guidance/
 http://www.solarbuzz.com/going-solar/using/economic-payback
 http://www.ekokarta.lt/uploads/failai/Atsinaujinanti_energija_Saules_energija.pdf
 http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2010/ph240/danowitz2/
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 http://www.solarserver.com/knowledge/lexicon/e/energy-payback-period.html
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