Unit-2: Solar Energy Collection & Storage and Applications
1. What is Solar Collectors.
Answer: ASRK 10-05-2023
Solar Collectors:
Solar collectors are the key component of active solar-heating systems.
Solar collectors gather the sun's energy, transform its radiation into heat, then
transfer that heat to water, solar fluid, or air.
The solar thermal energy can be used in solar water heating systems, solar
pool heaters, and solar space- heating systems.
There are several types of solar collectors:
Concentrating Collectors
Flat-plate collectors
2. Enumerate the different types of concentrating type collectors.
Answer: ASRK 10-05-2023
Concentrating collectors:
Unlike solar (photovoltaic) cells, which use light to produce electricity,
concentrating solar power systems generate electricity with heat.
Concentrating solar collectors use mirrors and lenses to concentrate and
focus sunlight onto a thermal receiver, similar to a boiler tube.
The receiver absorbs and converts sunlight into heat.
The heat is then transported to a steam generator or engine where it is
converted into electricity.
There are three main types of concentrating solar power systems:
1. Parabolic Troughs,
2. Dish/Engine Systems, and
3. Central Receiver Systems.
These technologies can be used to generate electricity fora variety of
applications, ranging from remote power systems as small as a few kilowatts
(kW) upto grid-connected applications of 200-350 megawatts (MW) or more.
, 1. Parabolic Troughs Systems:
These solar collectors use mirrored parabolic troughs to focus the sun's
energy to a fluid-carrying receiver tube located at the focal point of a
parabolically curved trough reflector (see Fig.1 above).
The energy from the sun sent to the tube heat soil flowing through the tube,
and the heat energy is then used to generate electricity in a conventional
steam generator.
Many troughs placed in parallel rows are called a "collector field."
The troughs in the field are all aligned along a north south axis so they can
track the sun from east to west during the day, ensuring that the sun is
continuously focused on the receiver pipes.
Individual trough systems currently can generate about 80 MW of electricity.
Currently, all parabolic trough plants are "hybrids," meaning they use fossil
fuels to supplement the solar output during periods of low solar radiation.
2. Dish/Engine Systems:
1. What is Solar Collectors.
Answer: ASRK 10-05-2023
Solar Collectors:
Solar collectors are the key component of active solar-heating systems.
Solar collectors gather the sun's energy, transform its radiation into heat, then
transfer that heat to water, solar fluid, or air.
The solar thermal energy can be used in solar water heating systems, solar
pool heaters, and solar space- heating systems.
There are several types of solar collectors:
Concentrating Collectors
Flat-plate collectors
2. Enumerate the different types of concentrating type collectors.
Answer: ASRK 10-05-2023
Concentrating collectors:
Unlike solar (photovoltaic) cells, which use light to produce electricity,
concentrating solar power systems generate electricity with heat.
Concentrating solar collectors use mirrors and lenses to concentrate and
focus sunlight onto a thermal receiver, similar to a boiler tube.
The receiver absorbs and converts sunlight into heat.
The heat is then transported to a steam generator or engine where it is
converted into electricity.
There are three main types of concentrating solar power systems:
1. Parabolic Troughs,
2. Dish/Engine Systems, and
3. Central Receiver Systems.
These technologies can be used to generate electricity fora variety of
applications, ranging from remote power systems as small as a few kilowatts
(kW) upto grid-connected applications of 200-350 megawatts (MW) or more.
, 1. Parabolic Troughs Systems:
These solar collectors use mirrored parabolic troughs to focus the sun's
energy to a fluid-carrying receiver tube located at the focal point of a
parabolically curved trough reflector (see Fig.1 above).
The energy from the sun sent to the tube heat soil flowing through the tube,
and the heat energy is then used to generate electricity in a conventional
steam generator.
Many troughs placed in parallel rows are called a "collector field."
The troughs in the field are all aligned along a north south axis so they can
track the sun from east to west during the day, ensuring that the sun is
continuously focused on the receiver pipes.
Individual trough systems currently can generate about 80 MW of electricity.
Currently, all parabolic trough plants are "hybrids," meaning they use fossil
fuels to supplement the solar output during periods of low solar radiation.
2. Dish/Engine Systems:
