Advances in Solar Energy Technology

The purpose of writing this three volume 'Advances in Solar Energy Technology' is to provide all the relevant latest information available in the field of Solar Energy (Applied as well as Theoretical) to serve as the best source material at one place. Attempts are made to discuss topics in depth to assist both the students (i.e. undergraduate, postgraduate, research scholars etc.) and the professionals (i.e. Consultancy, design, and contracting firms). Chapter 1 starts with a brief history of solar houses (active heating), one of the oldest and still the widely used application of Solar Energy. Various methods of build­ ing heating and other general aspects such as building form and functions are also described. Various components of active solar heating of building like solar collector, storage system, control unit, auxiliary heat source, etc. are discussed very briefly. Three types of solar active heating of buildings like Solar air systems, solar liquid systems, and solar assisted heat pump systems are discussed in detail in this chapter. Design details and performance of nine typical solar houses which are in use in different climatic conditions and using some newer concepts are also discussed in depth in this chapter.

1 Solar Heating of Buildings: Active Systems.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 History of Solar Houses.- 1.3 Building form and function.- 1.4 Conventional space heating systems.- 1.5 General aspects of solar active heating of buildings.- 1.6 Components of solar heating system.- 1.6.1 The solar heat collector.- 1.6.2 The thermal storage system.- 1.6.3 Auxiliary heat supply system.- 1.6.4 Control systems.- 1.7 Three ways of solar space heating.- 1.7.1 Solar air systems.- 1.7.2 Solar liquid systems.- 1.7.3 Solar heat pump systems.- 1.8 Solar heating practical systems.- 1.8.1 The MIT Solar House.- 1.8.2 The Colorado Solar House.- 1.8.3 The Thomason House.- 1.8.4 Colorado State University Solar House, CSU Solar House I.- 1.8.5 Lorriman Solar House.- 1.8.6 Colorado State University Solar House, CSU Solar House II.- 1.8.7 Mobile modular solar house.- 1.8.8 National Security and Resources Study Centre (NSRSC).- 1.8.9 Solarhaus Freiburg.- 1.9 Prediction of heating loads.- 1.10 Sizing of active solar space heating systems.- 1.11 Simulation of solar heating systems.- 1.12 Economics of solar space heating system.- References.- 2 Solar Energy for Industrial Process Heat.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Industrial Energy Use.- 2.3 Solar Collector Technology.- 2.4 Solar Thermal Energy Storage Technology.- 2.5 Industrial Process Heat (IPH) system.- 2.5.1 Hot Water Industrial Process Heat system.- > 2.5.2 Hot Air Industrial Process Heat system.- 2.5.3 Steam industrial process heat system.- 2.6 Examples of Solar Process Heat Systems.- 2.6.1 Shallow solar pond water heaters.- 2.6.2 Solar beer pasteurizer plant at Adelaide, Australia.- 2.6.3 Solar Laundry plant, Meitetsu Cleaning Company, Japan.- 2.6.4 Solar drying plant at Gold Kist, Inc. at Decatur, Alabama, USA.- 2.7 Problems with SIPH Systems.- 2.8 A design method for SIPH systems.- References.- 3 Solar Furnaces.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 History of solar furnaces.- 3.3 Type of solar furnaces.- 3.4 Theoretical considerations in a solar furnace.- 3.5 Components of solar furnace.- 3.5.1 Concentrator.- 3.5.2 Heliostat.- 3.5.3 Sun Tracking.- 3.6 Typical solar furnace designs.- 3.6.1 Single concentrator furnace.- 3.6.2 Single heliostat solar furnace.- 3.6.3 Multiple heliostats solar furnace.- 3.7 Measuring instruments in solar furnace.- 3.7.1 Measurement of heat flux.- 3.7.2 Heat flux regulation.- 3.7.3 Measurement of temperature.- 3.7.4 Measurement of emissivity.- 3.7.5 Measurement of electrical conductivity.- 3.7.6 Measurement of thermal expansion.- 3.7.7 Ablation studies.- 3.7.8 Thermal diffusivity measurement.- 3.7.9 Measurement of specific heat.- 3.7.10 Measurements in controlled atmosphere.- 3.8 Studies on material properties using solar furnace.- 3.8.1 Crystal growth.- 3.8.2 Phase-change studies.- 3.8.3 Other applications.- References.- 4 Solar Thermo-Mechanical Power.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 History of Solar Thermal Power.- 4.3 Principles of solar engines.- 4.4 Ideal working fluid.- 4.5 Limitations of solar mechanical power conversion.- 4.6 Rankine cycle characteristics.- 4.7 Solar heat engines.- 4.7.1 Steam engines.- 4.7.2 Turbines.- 4.7.3 Stirling engines.- 4.7.4 Brayton engines.- 4.8 Solar Power plants.- 4.8.1 Coolidge 150 KWe power plant.- 4.8.2 Solar thermal electric generation plant of 500 KWe at Almeria, Spain.- 4.8.3 The White Cliffs (Australia) solar power station.- 4.8.4 Central receiver electric plant of 1 MWe capacity (EURELIOS).- 4.8.5 Carrisa plain solar photovoltaic power plant.- References.- 5 Solar Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Carnot refrigeration cycle.- 5.3 Absorption refrigeration.- 5.3.1 History.- 5.3.2 Principle of absorption cooling.- 5.3.3 Basics of absorption cooling.- 5.3.4 Water-lithium bromide absorption system.- 5.3.5 The aqua-ammonia absorption system.- 5.3.6 Intermittent absorption refrigeration system.- 5.3.7 Arkla 3-ton absorption chiller.- 5.3.8 Yazaki absorption chiller.- 5.3.9 Hitachi solar powered absorption airconditioner.- 5.4 Desiccant Cooling.- 5.5 Vapour compression refrigeration.- 5.5.1 History.- 5.5.2 Principle of vapor compression cycle.- 5.5.3 Refrigerants.- 5.5.4 Typical designs.- 5.5.5 Solar cells operated vapour compression cooling system.- 5.6 Passive cooling.- 5.6.1 Shading.- 5.6.2 Ventilation.- 5.6.3 Evaporation.- 5.6.4 Radiation cooling.- 5.6.5 Ground coupling.- 5.6.6 Dehumidification.- References.- 6 Passive Solar House Heating.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 History.- 6.3 Types of passive systems.- 6.3.1 Direct gain.- 6.3.2 Thermal storage wall.- 6.3.3 Attached greenhouse (sun space).- 6.3.4 Thermal storage roof.- 6.3.5 Convective loop.- 6.4 Typical passive heating buildings.- 6.4.1 Direct gain installation.- 6.4.2 Thermal storage wall (Trombe Wall) Installation.- 6.4.3 Thermal storage wall (drum wall) Installation.- 6.4.4 Attached greenhouse installation.- 6.4.5 Thermal storage roof installation.- 6.4.6 Convective loop installation.- 6.5 Critical parameters for design of passive heating systems.- 6.5.1 Direct gain system.- 6.5.2 Thermal storage wall system.- 6.5.3 Attached greenhouse system.- 6.5.4 Thermal storage roof system.- 6.5.5 Convective loop system.- 6.6 Passive system performance prediction.- 6.6.1 Degree-Day method.- 6.6.2 Steady state method.- 6.6.2.1 Thermal mass wall.- 6.6.2.2 Water wall.- 6.6.2.3 Attached sun space.- 6.6.3 Solar Load ratio (SLR)design method.- 6.6.4 The Un-utilizability design method.- 6.6.5 The admittance design method.- 6.6.6 The periodic method.- 6.6.7 PASOLE computer program.- References.- Author index.