Solar collectors capture sunlight heat. Solar collectors are used primarily for solar hot water heating. Solar collectors can also power generating plants. Here are some examples of solar collectors. These include Parabolic-trough plants, Reflective-bow-shaped arrays of solar collectors, Concentrating and Transpired system.
Transpired solar collectors
Transpired Solar Collectors are a simple and efficient way to harness power from solar radiation. This technology has been used for over 20 year in North America. It has a very short payback period and is highly efficient in thermal efficiency. It captures the heat from the sun and delivers it to the steel sheet through one sheet. Kimpton Energy Solutions has installed many systems that are both efficient and economically.
Parabolic trough plants
Parabolic trough solar collectors are used to produce solar thermal energy. They are more efficient than evacuated tubes in solar thermal energy generation. Parabolic trough collectors are used for a Saudi Arabian-designed solar thermal energy generation plant. The plant is optimized to harness the country’s huge solar radiation potential. Simulations demonstrate that a parabolic trough is a good pre-heating unit for a powercycle. It produces a 23% power rate and an efficiency increase of 6.5%.
Reflective bowl-shaped arrays
Solar collector arrays with reflective bowls are used to collect solar energy. These arrays comprise first and second support portions, with the first supporting at least one primary reflector and the second supporting a photovoltaic cell. Each reflector has one axis and one axis, with the second being parallel to it. The reflector is set up to focus radiation incident on the first and second axes towards a single point. The second support portion is configured to receive radiation incident on the first and second axes.
Concentrating systems
Concentrating solar collectors use mirrors to focus the sun's radiation onto receivers. These collectors have multiple reflections and multiple apertures, which allow the sun's energy to reach the absorber surface. There are several different absorber geometries available for concentrating collectors, including tubular and fin absorbers. For maximum effectiveness, collectors should be placed between the reflectors and receivers.
Flat-plate collectors
Flat-plate solar collectors have high performance and long maintenance-free lifetimes. Their design requires careful consideration of a variety of factors to achieve optimal performance.
Closed loop collectors
For heating indoor solar pools, closed-loop solar collectors can be a good option. This system allows water flow to a storage reservoir by connecting the solar collectors to closed-loop systems. The solar collectors turn the water into steam. The system can be used to heat domestic hotwater or for heating a swimming-pool that remains open throughout the year.
Unglazed collectors
These solar collectors can be used to heat or cool a building using unglazed glass. They consist of an unglazed aluminum plate covered with tubing. The collector is attached to the roof of a building and heats ambient air. They work best when flow rates are between 4-8 CFM per square feet.