SOLAR ENERGY APPLICATIONS

1. Direct thermal applications Space heating Hot water for building Process where moderate temperature is required 2. Solar electric applications Solar energy directly or indirectly converted into electrical energy Solar thermal energy conversion Photovoltaic conversion Thermo electric conversion Ocean thermal energy conversion 3. Energy from biomass and biogas - plants are growing with solar energy

Direct solar energy applications

Solar water heating Space heating or cooling Solar distillation Solar pumping Solar furnace Agricultural or industrial process

SOLAR WATER HEATING

(Thermosiphon System)

Flat plate collector with transport glass Bottom of the tank at least 0.3m top of the collector Circulation occurs through natural convection or thermo siphoning Heated water with low density rises and flows into the top of the storage tank. The higher density cold water tends to sink and flows lower heater of flat plate The density difference provides driving effect

SPACE HEATING
A. PASSIVE SYSYTEMS B. ACTIVE SYSTEMS PASSIVE HEATING SYSYTEMS Solar radiation is collected by some elements of structure or admitted directly into building through large south facing windows. Which operates without pumps, blowers or any other mechanical devices Air is circulated past a solar heated surface and through the building by convection. BASIC DESIGN PRINCIPLES WITHOUT MECHANICAL COMPONENTS Direct gain Thermal storage wall Roof storage Convective loop

DIRECT GAIN
Building has south wall with large number of windows Solar radiation entering the windows falls on thick concrete or brick floors and absorbed as well as stored as heat Building air is heated by radiation and convection from the floor and walls

THERMAL STORAGE WALL

A large wall which absorbs solar radiation and stores heat which is placed behind south facing windows The air is heated between glass cover and wall. The heated air rises and enters the adjacent room through vents at the top of the wall and air circulates by natural convection

ROOF STORAGE
The heat is absorbed and stored in water Airspace reduces the heat loss to atmosphere Heat is transferred from the heated water to the rooms below by conduction through metal ceiling and air circulation by fan.

CONVECTIVE LOOP
The heated air is circulated by convection A bed of rock provides thermal energy In normal operation air passing upward through the collector is heated and enters the building through floor vents The cool denser air leaving the building enters the bottom of collector and is reheated.

Active Heating Systems

It consists of Separate solar collectors Storage devices to accumulate energy Backup system and distribution system Fans and pumps are used to circulate the air Basic hot water system Basic hot air system

BASIC HOT WATER SYSTEM

Flat plate collector located on the roof of the building Heat is transmitted to water in the storage tank When the temperature falls below, the water will pass through auxiliary heater During normal operation through air heat exchanger, air is heated and passes through 3 way valve then to the distribution system. During cloudy days, air passes through the auxiliary heater then to the distribution system Advantages: No temperature drop during transfer of energy Requires relatively smaller storage volume It can be used in absorption air conditioner Disadvantages: Water heater may operate at excessive high temperature, care must be taken to avoid boiling and pressure build up Care must be taken to avoid corrosion problems

BASIC HOT AIR SYSYTEM

Advantages: No freezing problem Minimum corrosion problem Since working fluid is air, warm air heating system is in common Disadvantages: Relatively higher power cost for pumping air through storage medium Large storage volume

Air Distribution

SOLAR THERMAL ELECTRIC CONVERTER

Conversion of solar energy into electrical energy by the way of thermal (heat) energy The heat energy is then converted into mechanical energy in turbine Generator is coupled with turbine to produce electrical power. Power cycles are classified as: Low 90 degree from solar energy- Rankine Cycle (Flat plate collector) Medium 150-300 degree- Rankine Cycle High - greater than 300 degree Rankine/Brayton Cycle (Concentrating collector) Basic arrangements -to convert solar energy into electrical energy Central receiver system (Power tower design) Distributed collector system (line or point focusing)

THERMO ELECTRIC POWER PLANT

1.Low temperature systems:
Energy is collected by using a solar pond through flat plate collector (60 100 degree) 80 degree temperature of water is not possible to generate steam to run the prime mover. Some organic (freon group) is used, which evaporates at low temperature and pressure by absorbing heat from heated water The vapor with high pressure can be used to run the turbine which may generate power( lighting houses, irrigation in rural areas)

Schematic Diagram for Solar Pond Electric Power Plant

Hot water from bottom level of pond is pumped to the evaporator where the organic fluid is vaporized by means of heat exchanger Vapor under pressure expanded to run the turbine - generator electrical energy. Vapor then goes to the condenser and the liquid pumped back 2000 square meter solar pond produces 20KW power.

Medium temperature systems:

Array of parabolic concentrating collectors. Temperature range 250-300C Proper sun tracking arrangement Power plant is same as in low temperature system.

High temperature systems: CENTRAL RECEIVER SYSTEMS Incoming solar radiation is focused to a central receiver or boiler mounted on a tall tower using thousands of plane reflectors (heliostats) Beam radiation incident on boiler absorbed by black pipes where fluid is heated. The working fluid drives the turbine Turbine drives the generator and produces electrical power.

Electric Power Generation Using Thermal Storage

DISTRIBUTED COLLECTOR SYSTEM (Solar Farms) Heated water from receiver enters thermal storage where it becomes steam 500C and 1000 Pa Steam runs the turbine in turn produces electrical power Steam leaving from turbine enters condenser and condenses to water and pumped to thermal storage or to central receiver. 150 KW power is produced.

ADAVNTAGES: Heat conversion subsystem comprising of turbine, generator Boiler is absorbed, resulting in low heat loss Heat need not be transported to long distances.

SOLAR DISTILLATION
Converting saline water into distilled water in solar still. Blackened basis containing saline water on which a transparent glass covers. Solar radiation passes through cover and energy is absorbed by blackened surface. Water is heated and vapor produced is condensed to purified water on cooler interior of roof. Condensed water is flowing down the sloping roof and is collected. Efficiency =W (h2-h1)/H where W = weight of distillated water per m2 per day h2 - h1 enthalpy change fro vapor to water and H = solar intensity. 15-20 liters per day per 10 m2

SOLAR PUMPING:
Utilization of power generated by solar energy for water pumping, useful for irrigation It consists of: Solar collector- there are two kinds Flat plate and concentrator collector Heat transport system Boiler or heat exchanger Heat engine- there are two- Rotary piston engine and Reciprocating engine. Condenser Pump Reciprocating and Rotary pump

SOLAR FURNACE

Getting high temperature by concentrating solar radiation onto a specimen . Heliostat: optically flat , polished flat plate Spherical reflecting collectors: highly polished aluminum or silver coated surface. It produces 2800 0c or maximum heat flux:16000 Kw/m2 Advantages Heating is carried out without any contamination Temp can be controlled by changing the position of material in focus Gives extremely high temp Provides rapid heating Limitations It is limited to sunny days (4-5hrs) High cost