Solar collectors are devices that collect heat from sunlight. They are most commonly used to heat solar hot water. They can also be used as power generators. Here are some types. They include Reflective bowl shaped arrays and parabolic trough plants.
Transpired solar collectors
The Transpired Solar Collector system is a simple and effective way to harness the power of solar radiation. This technology has been in North America since over 20 years. It has a rapid payback time and high thermal efficiency. It works by capturing and delivering heat from the sun through a single sheet made of perforated steel. Kimpton Energy Solutions is a provider of many systems that are both economically and highly effective.
Plants for parabolic trough
To produce solar thermal energy, parabolic trough solar cells are used. They are more efficient than evacuated tube solar collectors for solar thermal power generation. In this study, parabolic trough collectors are used in a solar thermal energy production plant designed for Saudi Arabia. This plant is sized to capitalize on the country's large solar irradiation potential. Simulations reveal that a parabolic trough can be used in a power cycle as a heating unit to generate 23% power and 6.5% more efficiency.
Reflective bowl-shaped arrays
Devices used for solar energy collection include reflective bowl-shaped solar collector arrays. These arrays include first and secondary support portions. The first portion supports at most one primary reflector while the second supports a solar cell. Each reflector has a first and second axis. The second axis is usually parallel to the first. The reflector is designed to concentrate radiation incident on the first axis to a point. The second support component is designed to receive radiation incident from the first and third axes.
Concentrating systems
Concentrating solar collectors use mirrors that concentrate the sun's rays onto a receiver. These collectors have multiple reflections and multiple apertures, which allow the sun's energy to reach the absorber surface. There are several types of absorber geometries for concentrating collectors. Both types should have a suitable gap between the reflector and the receiver to maximize the effectiveness of the collectors.
Flat-plate collectors
Flat-plate solar collectors offer high performance and long, maintenance-free lives. To achieve maximum performance, their design must be carefully considered.
Closed loop collectors
Closed-loop solar collectors are a popular option for heating indoor solar pools. In this method, the solar collectors are connected to a closed-loop system, which allows for the flow of water to a storage tank. The solar collectors convert the water into steam. The system can be used for heating domestic hot water or for heating a swimming pool that remains open year-round.
Unglazed collectors
Unglazed solar collectors are a common alternative for heating and cooling a building. They consist of an unglazed aluminum plat covered with tubing. The collector is mounted to a building's roof and is designed to heat ambient air or recirculated building air. They work best at flow rates of four- to eight CFM/square feet.