Solar 

Energy
 Basics of Heat Transfer
 Conduction
 Convection
 Radiation
 Solar Radiation
 Solar Thermal Processes
 Flat Plate Collector
 Concentrating Collector
 Solar Photovoltaics
 Applications of Solar Systems
 Main References
• Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, 3rd Edition
by Frank P. Incropera and David P. De Witt

• Heat Transfer, 10thEdition by JP Holman

• Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes by John A.
Diffie and William A. Bechman

• Research Papers

• Commercial Innovative Applications and Systems
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 Basics of Heat Transfer
• Heat transfer is the science that seeks to
predict the energy transfer that may take
place between material bodies as a result of
a temperature difference.
• Thermodynamics deals with systems in
equilibrium; it may be used to predict the
amount of energy required to change a
system from one equilibrium state to
another; it may not be used to predict how
fast a change will take place since the system
is not in equilibrium during the process.

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• If two bodies at the same temperature are in contact, there is no net
heat flow from one body to the other .
• This condition is known as thermal equilibrium.
• The SI unit of heat is the Joule (J).

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Introduction
 Heat always moves from a warmer
place to a cooler place.
 Hot objects in a cooler room will cool
to room temperature.
 Cold objects in a warmer room will
heat up to room temperature.
 Heat is a form of energy which passes
from a body at higher temperature to a
body at a lower temperature.

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Modes of Heat Transfer
• All modes of heat transfer require the existence of a temperature
difference, and all modes of heat transfer are from the high‐
temperature medium to a lower temperature one.

• Heat can be transferred in three different ways:

• Conduction
• Convection
• radiation

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Conduction
• Conduction is the transfer of energy from more energetic particles of
a substance to adjacent less energetic ones result of interaction
between particles.
• Conduction can take place in solids, liquids, or gases.

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Conduction

Heat conduction from warm air to 
a cold canned drink through the wall 
of the aluminum can

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Conduction
• Fourier’s law Of Conduction
" T1 T2
In 1822 Fourier postulated that the
rate of heat transfer is proportional
to the temperature gradient present
in a solid.
Note: the minus sign is a
consequence of the fact that heat is
transferred in the direction of
decreasing temperature
it is inserted so that the second
principle of thermodynamics will be
satisfied; i.e., heat must flow "
∆
= 
∆ ∆
= 
downhill on the temperature scale /

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R= Thermal resistance of the material
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Convection
• Convection is the mode of energy transfer between a solid surface
and the adjacent liquid or gas that is in motion, and it involves the
combined effects of conduction and fluid motion. The faster the fluid
motion, the greater the convection heat transfer.

Heat transfer from

a hot surface to air
by convection.

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Convection
Convection is the process by which heat is transmitted from one place 
to another by the movement of heated particles of a gas or liquid.

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Convection
• Types of Convection : 
1. Natural convection : Natural convection occurs whenever heat flows
between a solid and fluid, or between fluid layers. As a result of heat
exchange, change in density of effective fluid layers taken place, which
causes upward flow of heated fluid. If this motion is associated with heat
transfer mechanism only, then it is called Natural Convection.
2. Forced convection : Mixing of hot and cold parts of the fluid through
some external stirring, like a fan or pump. If this motion is associated by
mechanical means such as pumps, gravity or fans, the movement of the
fluid is enforced. And in this case, we then speak of Forced convection.

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 We resort to forced convection
Heat transfer from a hot surface to the whenever we need to increase the
surrounding fluid by convection and rate of heat transfer.
conduction. 17
Convection
During the day the sun heats the land much faster
than the sea. The air above the land is heated,
expands and rises. Cold air from the sea moves
inland to take its place. Hence, sea breeze is
obtained.

Land loses heat faster than the sea. Hot air above
the sea which is less dense, expands and rises.
Cold air from the land moves towards the sea.
Convection current is formed. Land Breeze is
obtained

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Radiation
• Radiation is the energy emitted by matter in the form of
electromagnetic waves (or photons) as a result of the changes in the
electronic configurations of the atoms or molecules. Unlike
conduction and convection, the transfer of energy by radiation does
not require the presence of an intervening medium.

Unlike conduction and convection, heat transfer by

radiation can occur between two bodies, even when
they are separated by a medium colder than both of
them.

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Summary

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Homework (2):

1) Search information from the net and try to make a map of Thailand where solar
farms are installed.

2) What solar system or product that you wish to buy (developed or not yet). Give
a short description of the benefit of system.

Send your answer by email at jongjit.hirunlabh@Hotmail.com