uzair@neduet.edu.

pk
Dr. Muhammad Uzair
Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
NED University of Engineering & Technology

DICE Lab (MED, NED)

+99261261 (Ext. 2206)
uzair@neduet.edu.pk

uzair@neduet.edu.pk
Report:
“Between 1984 and 1991,
the United States built nine
(solar thermal) plants in
California's Mojave Desert,
and today they continue to
provide a combined capacity
of 354 megawatts annually,
power used in 500,000
Californian homes”

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/solar-wind/4288743
 Solar Hot Water (SHW) Systems
• Sun’s heat can be utilized
to heat water.
• Hot water can then be
used for:
– Domestic purposes and
– Industrial purposes
Solar Hot Water (SHW) Systems

Solar water heater advertise (1902)

Solar Hot Water (SHW) Systems

A typical SHW system

 Solar Hot Water (SHW) Systems
Types of SHW systems
Active SHW systems Passive SHW systems
1. Use of pumps and 1. Natural circulation
controls for circulation of water
of water
2. Efficient 2. Less efficient
3. Expansive 3. Cheap in cost
4. Do not last longer 4. Long life
 Solar Hot Water (SHW) Systems
Types of SHW systems

1. Active SHW systems:

a) Direct circulation systems
b) Indirect circulation systems

2. Passive SHW systems:

a) Integral collector-storage passive systems
b) Thermosyphon systems
 Solar Hot Water (SHW) Systems
Active SHW systems: Direct circulation systems

In this system uses pump to circulate water from

collectors, directly into the home. This only works
well in mild climates.
Solar Hot Water (SHW) Systems

Active SHW systems: Direct circulation systems

 Solar Hot Water (SHW) Systems
Active SHW systems: Indirect circulation systems

In this system, pumps circulate a non-freezing

liquid through the collectors and through a heat
exchanger, which then heats the water that flows
into the home itself. Because of the use of non-
freezing liquids, this system is popular in climates
with freezing temperatures.
Solar Hot Water (SHW) Systems

Active SHW systems: Indirect circulation systems

 Solar Hot Water (SHW) Systems
Passive SHW systems: Integral collector-storage
passive systems (ICS or batch)

This is suitable only for mild climates. It is passive

because it does not require the use of any
pumps. Water goes directly from cold water
supply to the normal water heater. So it
supplements and preheats the water only.
Solar Hot Water (SHW) Systems

Passive SHW systems: ICS or Batch

 Solar Hot Water (SHW) Systems
Passive SHW systems: Thermosyphon systems

This system takes advantage of the fact that

warm water will rise when placed in contact with
cold water. In this system, the storage tank is
placed above the collector, so the warm water
automatically and passively rises into tank as it is
heated by the collector.
Solar Hot Water (SHW) Systems

Passive SHW systems: Thermosyphon systems

 Solar Hot Water (SHW) Systems
Auxiliary Boosters and Boiler

SHW systems are designed to deliver hot water

for most of the year.

However, in winter there sometimes may not be

sufficient solar heat gain to deliver sufficient hot
water. In this case a gas/electric booster or boiler
is used to heat the water.
Solar Hot Water (SHW) Systems

Auxiliary Boosters
Solar Hot Water (SHW) Systems

Auxiliary Boiler
 Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)
A solar thermal collector collects heat by
absorbing sunlight.
 Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)
Types of STC:
• Flat plate collectors
• Evacuated tube collectors
• Parabolic troughs
• Parabolic dishs
• Power towers
• Solar ponds
• Solar dryers Solar furnace at Odeillo, France can
reach temperatures up to 3,500°C
 Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)
Flat Plate Collectors (FPC)

Flat-plate collectors, developed

by Hottel and Whillier in the
1950s, are the most common
type.

Dr. Hoyt C. Hottel

(1903-1998)
 Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)
Flat Plate Collectors (FPC)

FPC consist of:

(1) a dark flat-plate absorber,
(2) a transparent cover that reduces heat losses,
(3) a heat-transport fluid (air, antifreeze or water)
to remove heat from the absorber, and
(4) a heat insulating backing.
Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

A flat-plate collector
 Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)
Flat Plate Collectors (FPC)

CR-90 is one of a standard FPC with following

specifications:
Gross area: 1.7 m2
Length: 182 cm
Width: 93 cm
Thickness: 9 cm
Weight: 32 kg
Fluid capacity: 2.7 L
 Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)
Evacuated Tube Collectors or Evacuated Heat
Pipe Tubes (EHTP)

They are composed of multiple evacuated glass

tubes each containing an absorber plate fused
to a heat pipe.
Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

Evacuated Heat Pipe Tubes

 Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)
Parabolic Trough Collectors (PTC)

This type of collector is generally used in solar

power plants. A trough-shaped parabolic
reflector is used to concentrate sunlight on an
insulated tube or heat pipe, placed at the focal
point, containing coolant which transfers heat
from the collectors to the boilers in the power
station.
Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

Parabolic Trough Collector

Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

Parabolic Trough Collector

Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

Parabolic Trough Collector

 Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)
• Parabolic trough power plants constitute the
biggest share of the installed concentrating
solar power technology

• http://www.energy-science.org/bibliotheque/cours/1361450193Chapter%2005%20parabolic%20trough.pdf

Parabolic Trough Collector

Parabolic Trough Collector
 Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)
Parabolic Dish Collectors (PDC)

With a parabolic dish collector, one or more

parabolic dishes concentrate solar energy at a
single focal point, similar to the way a reflecting
telescope focuses starlight, or a dish antenna
focuses radio waves. This geometry may be used
in solar furnaces and solar power plants.

http://www.energy-science.org/bibliotheque/cours/1361450770Chapter%2007%20dish.pdf
Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

Parabolic Dish Collector

Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

Parabolic Dish Collector

Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

Parabolic Dish Collector

 Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)
Solar dish/engine systems are small energy conversion units
compared to other CSP systems.

Typical system sizes are usually in the range of 5 kWe to 25 kWe.

However, there are also smaller systems for the domestic use.

Generally, Solar dishes are equipped with Stirling engines as

heat engines. However, also micro gas turbines could be used.

Because of the reduced size of solar dish/engine systems they

are in particular suitable for decentralized and off grid
applications

Parabolic Dish Collector

 Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)
Solar Power Towers (SPT)

A power tower is a large tower surrounded by

tracking mirrors called heliostats. These mirrors
align themselves and focus sunlight on the
receiver at the top of tower, collected heat is
transferred to a power station below.
Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

Solar Power Towers

Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

Solar Power Towers

Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

Solar Power Towers (Spain)

 Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)
Solar Dryers

Solar dryers are devices that use solar energy to

dry substances, especially food.
 Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)
Types of Solar Dryers

1. Direct solar dryer: These dryers expose the

substance to be dehydrated to direct sunlight.
2. Indirect solar dryer: These dryers heats the
incoming air, rather than directly heating the
substance to be dried. This heated air is then
passed over the substance and exits through a
chimney, taking moisture from the substance
with it.
Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

Direct Solar Dryer

Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

Indirect Solar Dryer

 Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)
Solar Distillation (Solar stills)

A solar still is a simple way of distilling water,

using the heat of the Sun to drive evaporation
from humid soil, and ambient air to cool a
condenser film.
Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

Solar Still
Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

Solar Still
Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

Solar Still
 Solar Thermal Collectors (STC)

Solar PV with underground pumping and Solar Still system

Solar Thermal Electric (STE) Systems

Basic operation of STE

Solar Thermal Electric (STE) Systems

Basic operation of PDC-STE

Solar Thermal Electric (STE) Systems

Basic operation of ST-STE