What are solar collectors and thermal energy storage systems?

In these applications, solar collectors and thermal energy storage systems are the two core components. This paper focuses on the latest developments and advances in solar thermal applications, providing a review of solar collectors and thermal energy storage systems.

What is a solar collector?

Solar collectors A solar collector, the special energy exchanger, converts solar irradiation energy either to the thermal energy of the working fluid in solar thermal applications, or to the electric energy directly in PV (Photovoltaic) applications.

What are solar thermal collectors used for?

Solar thermal collectors are used for heating water, space heating, and even generating electricity. They are devices designed to collect and convert solar energy into heat.

What makes a solar collector a good choice?

A good solar collector should have excellent thermal insulation at the back and sides to minimize heat loss. Additionally, it should have high transmission capacity for solar energy while minimizing heat loss.

What are the different types of solar collectors?

Various types of solar collectors are reviewed and discussed, including both non-concentrating collectors (low temperature applications) and concentrating collectors (high temperature applications). These are studied in terms of optical optimisation, heat loss reduction, heat recuperation enhancement and different sun-tracking mechanisms.

How to design a solar thermal energy storage system?

There are three main aspects that need to be considered in the design of a solar thermal energy storage system: technical properties, cost effectiveness and environmental impact. Excellent technical properties are the key factors to ensure the technical feasibility of a solar thermal energy storage system.