Solar Energy

Dr. Lipika Parida

Chemical Engineering Department
VSSUT-Burla
 What’s Solar Energy?

• Solar energy Originates with the thermonuclear fusion reactions occurring in the sun.

• Represents the entire electromagnetic radiation (visible light, infrared, ultraviolet, x-rays,
and radio waves).

• This energy consists of radiant light and heat energy from the sun.

• Out of all energy emitted by sun only a small fraction of energy is absorbed by the earth.

• Just this tiny fraction of the sun’s energy is enough to meet all our power needs.
What’s Solar Energy?
Insolation is the amount of solar radiation reaching the earth. Also called Incident Solar Radiation.
Maximum value is 1000 kW/m2.
Components of Solar Radiation:
Direct radiation
Diffuse radiation
Reflect radiation
How much solar energy? The surface receives about 47% of the total
solar energy that reaches the Earth. Only this
amount is usable.
 Current Solar Energy Consumption
• Using present solar techniques some of the solar energy reaching the earth is utilized for generating heat, electricity etc.

• Even then the energy demand met by using solar energy is very less.
Why Solar Energy?

•The fossil fuels are nonrenewable sources so we cannot depend on them forever.

•Though nuclear energy is a clean and green energy, as said by Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam, there are always some problems
associated with it.

•So the only option we have is solar energy because it is a nonpolluting and silent source of electricity and also low
maintenance and long lasting energy.

How solar energy is used

•Solar Thermal Energy

•Solar Heating
•Solar Water Heating
•Solar Space Heating
•Solar Space Cooling
•Electricity Generation Using Solar Concentrators
•Photovoltaic Cells
Flat Plate Collector
Evacuated Tube Collectors
ammonia (213–373 K),
alcohol (methanol (283–403 K)
or ethanol (273–403 K)),
or water (298–573 K) as the
working fluid
Integral Collector System (ICS)
Concentrated Solar Power
• CSP is a power generation technology that uses mirrors or lenses to concentrate the sun’s rays and,
• That heat a fluid and produce steam.
• The steam drives a turbine and generates power in the same way as conventional power plants.

Solar power is concentrated in various ways:

There are now several devices and structures created which focus and concentrate solar power.

1. Solar Parabolic Troughs

2. Stirling Dish
3. Solar Power Tower
4. The Linear Fresnel Reflector
Solar Parabolic Troughs
 Solar Parabolic Troughs
• A parabolic trough is a type of solar thermal collector that is straight in one dimension and curved as a parabola in
the other two, lined with a polished metal mirror.

• The sunlight which enters the mirror parallel to its plane of symmetry is focused along the focal line, where objects
are positioned that are intended to be heated.

• For other purposes, a tube containing a fluid runs the length of the trough at its focal line.

• The sunlight is concentrated on the tube and the fluid heated to a high temperature by the energy of the sunlight.

• The hot fluid can be piped to a heat engine, which uses the heat energy to drive machinery, or to generate electricity.
•
• This solar energy collector is the most common and best known type of parabolic trough.

• The Tube is filled with the heat transfer fluid, typically a molten nitrate salt.
Stirling Dish
 Stirling Dish
• There are two essential components of a stirling solar dish, the dish which is nothing but a single large parabolic
mirror or sometimes an array of mirrors maybe used to give it a parabolic shape and a stirling engine which acts as
the engine unit.
• These systems operate at around 25% efficiency and can convert 25% of available energy from sunlight into
electricity.
Advantages:
• The high efficiency and relatively longer durability.
• The high temperatures generated because of better focus are of advantage since the conversion to electricity is
enhanced at such high temperatures.
• Such systems are ideal for standalone applications and can be tailor made to suit one’s requirements. Many such
isolated units can be installed together to have a larger output or can be used as a single unit for applications such
as a water pump for rural applications.
Disadvantages:
• The relatively heavy engine is itself a part of the entire structure which is mobile and therefore requires a very
sturdy frame and a strong tracking system. This increases costs.
• Parabolic mirrors need to be employed here instead of flat mirror which also increases cost.
Solar Power Tower
The Linear Fresnel Reflector
Solar Space Heating and Cooling
 Introduction
• Solar space heating and cooling technology receive the thermal energy from sun and utilize this energy
to provide space heating and cooling for residential, commercial and industrial applications.
• The main function of solar system is to convert sun light into heat.
• The primary requirement of Solar Heating and Cooling System is to setup the light collectors with higher
efficiency.

Why we need Solar Heating and Cooling System?

• Eliminating the need for electricity or natural gas.

• An economical alternative to solar photovoltaic (SPV) system.
• Solar heating and cooling systems simply eliminate the need for electricity to cool or heat the air and water in a home
or business.
 Solar Heating, Cooling
• Passive systems are defined, quite generally, as systems in which the thermal energy flow is by natural means: by
conduction, radiation, and natural convection.

• Passive features increase the use of solar energy, ambient conditions, and earth and deep space to meet the heating,
cooling, and lighting loads of buildings.

• For example, window placement can enhance solar gains to meet winter heating loads, provide daylighting, or do both.
Using a solar chimney to draw air through a building directly or via an earth air tunnel is an example of passive cooling.

• A passive solar heating system is one in which the sun’s radiant energy is converted to heat upon absorption by the building.
The absorbed heat can be transferred to thermal storage by natural means or used to directly heat the building. Passive
cooling systems use natural energy flows to transfer heat to the environmental sinks: the ground, air, and sky (space).

• If one of the major heat transfer paths employs a pump or fan to force flow of a heat transfer fluid, then the system is
referred to as having an active component or subsystem.

• Hybrid systems use both passive and active energy flows. The use of the sun’s radiant energy for the natural illumination of a
building’s interior spaces is called daylighting.
 Passive Space Heating Systems
Passive heating systems contain the five basic components
1. Collector—windows, walls, and floors

2. Storage—walls and floors, large interior masses (often these are integrated with the collector absorption function)

3. Distribution system—radiation, free convection

4. Controls—moveable window insulation, vents both to other inside spaces and to ambient

5. Backup system—any non-solar heating system

The design of passive systems requires the strategic placement of windows, storage masses, and the occupied spaces
themselves. The fundamental principles of solar radiation geometry and availability are instrumental in the proper
location and sizing of the system’s “collectors” (windows). Storage devices are usually more massive than those used in
active systems and are frequently an integral part of the collection and distribution system.
 Types of Passive Heating Systems
• Passive solar design systems usually have one of the three
design:
• Direct Gain stores and slowly releases heat energy collected
from the sun shining directly into the building and warming
materials such as tile or concrete .
• Indirect Gain uses materials that hold, store, and release heat;
the material is located between the sun and living space.
• Isolated Gain collects solar energy remote from the location of
the primary living area.
 Types of Passive Heating Systems
• direct, indirect, and isolated gain
Direct gain systems
sunlight enters the heated space and is converted to heat at absorbing
surfaces.
This heat is then distributed throughout the space and to the various
enclosing surfaces and room contents.
 Indirect gain systems

Attached sunspace Thermal storage roof

Thermal storage wall

•Sunlight is absorbed and stored by a mass interposed between the glazing and the conditioned space.
•The conditioned space is partially enclosed and bounded by this thermal storage mass; hence, a natural thermal coupling
is achieved.
•Examples of the indirect approach are the thermal storage wall, the thermal storage roof, and the northerly room of
•an attached sunspace.
 Indirect gain systems
• In the thermal storage wall (Figure a), sunlight penetrates the glazing and is absorbed and
converted to heat at a wall surface interposed between the glazing and the heated space.
The wall is usually masonry (Trombe wall) or containers filled with water (water wall),
although it might contain phase change material.

• The attached sunspace (Figure b) is actually a two-zone combination of direct gain and
thermal storage wall. Sunlight enters and heats a direct gain southerly sunspace and a mass
wall separating the northerly buffered space, which is heated indirectly. The sunspace is
frequently used as a greenhouse, in which case the system is called an attached
greenhouse.

• The thermal storage roof (Figure c) is similar to the thermal storage wall except that the
interposed thermal storage mass is located on the building roof. A thermal storage roof
using water for storage and movable insulation on the top was developed by Hay (Hay and
Yellott 1969), which is also known as the roof-pond system.
Isolated gain systems
It is an indirect system except that there is a distinct thermal
separation (by means of either insulation or physical separation)
between the thermal storage and the heated space.

The convective (thermosyphon) loop, as depicted in Figure, is in this

category and is often used to heat domestic water. It is most akin to
conventional active systems in that there is a separate collector and
separate thermal storage.

The thermal storage wall, thermal storage roof, and attached

sunspace approaches can also be made into isolated systems by
insulating between the thermal storage and the heated space.
 Passive Space Cooling Systems
• Passive cooling systems are designed to use natural means to transfer
heat from buildings, including convection/ventilation, evaporation,
radiation, and conduction.

• However, the most important element in both passive and

conventional cooling design is to prevent heat from entering the
building in the first place.

• Cooling conservation techniques involve building surface colors,

insulation, special window glazings, overhangs and orientation, and
numerous other architectural/engineering features.
 Passive Space Cooling Systems

• Controlling the Solar Input: determining proper south-facing window overhang for both winter heating and
summer shading

• Movement of Air: The proper placement of windows, “narrow” building shape, and open landscaping can
enhance natural wind flow to provide ventilation.

• Evaporative Cooling: The use of water sprays and open ponds on roofs provides cooling primarily via
evaporation. The hybrid system involving a fan and wetted mat, the “swamp cooler,” is by far the most
widely used evaporative cooling technology.

• Nocturnal and Radiative Cooling Systems

• Earth Contact Cooling (or Heating): Earth contact cooling or heating is a passive summer cooling and winter
heating technique that utilizes underground soil as the heat sink or source. By installing a pipe underground
and passing air through the pipe, the air will be cooled or warmed depending on the season.
 Earth Contact Cooling (or Heating):

(a) Open loop underground air tunnel system. (b) Schematic of closed loop air-conditioning system using air tunnel.
 Active space heating
• Active solar heating methods, use pumps and fans to enhance the rate of
fluid flow and heat transfer.

• Active methods for water heating, space heating, and industrial process
heat (IPH) have been developed mainly in the last four decades.
Photovoltaics
•Converting solar energy directly into electrical energy .
•Devices used are called solar panels.
•Solar panel is a group of solar cells.
•Solar cells work on the principle of photoelectric effect.
Structure of a Solar Cell
A typical solar cell is a multi-layered unit consisting of a:
Cover-a clear glass or plastic layer that provides outer
protection from the elements.
Transparent Adhesive –holds
the glass to the rest of the solar cell.
Anti-reflective Coating-this substance is designed to
prevent the light that strikes the cell from bouncing off so
that the maximum energy is absorbed into the cell.
Front Contact-transmits the electric current.
N-Type Semiconductor Layer-This is a thin layer of
silicon which has been mixed (process called doping) with
phosphorous.
P-Type Semiconductor Layer-This is a thin layer of
silicon which has been mixed or doped with boron.
Back Contact-transmits the electric current.