The amount of solar energy received on Earth exceeds the energy of all the world’s oil, gas, coal and other energy resources together. Using of only 0,0125% could provide all global energy needs today, and the use of 0,5% can fully cover the needs in the future. The advantages of solar energy using technology are almost fully absence of heat, which is being added to the near-surface layers of the atmosphere when solar installations work. It does not create a greenhouse effect and there is no air pollution. But solar energy has a drawback – its dependence on atmospheric conditions, time of a day and year.
Solar energy is being used mainly in two ways: in the form of thermal energy through the use of various termosystem or by photochemical reactions.
The technology of solar energy using, which has become the most common in the world is that for hot water and heating. For these purposes, low temperature energy is sufficient. Plants and solar heating systems can be divided into passive and active.
The absorption and storage of solar energy in passive systems are directly conducted by the elements of building structures of buildings with little use of additional devices or without them. Man has learned to use the sun’s heat while the building of his house long time ago throughout history. In many countries thick walls of buildings that accumulate energy and orientation of the windows in the direction of the sunny sides are typical. This “system” has been modernized in our times. The wall, which faces south, is often painted in black. In front of the wall the glazed surface is located and air that is heated and circulates in the house by convection is between them. Instead of a stone wall “water wall” can be. It consists of water-filled tanks made of fiberglass.
Active systems are based on the use of collectors, devices that convert solar energy into heat. Flat solar collector consists of energy-absorbing panels, glazing and tubes located between the plate and glass. The heated liquid circulates by pipes with a pump.
Solar collectors can be used in a number of low-temperature processes. For example, it can be used in the food industry for pasteurization of products for washing cans, bottles, laundry in the laundry, drying of agricultural products and even buildings.
For high temperature producing or for the conducting of the mechanical work reflecting solar collectors are used. They concentrate the heat and light of the sun and react on its movement. Either mirrors or lenses are applied in such reservoirs. Mirrors can be parabolic, paraboloidal or spherical. A concentrated sunlight falls on the central heat sink and heat the liquid that is pumped by pump. The system includes a tank battery for the heated fluid.
The main problem of the solar thermal plants using is related to their economic efficiency and competitiveness in comparison to traditional systems. The cost of energy generated by solar plants is higher than the cost of energy obtained by using of traditional fuels. But for remotes from the centralized power supplying systems, the use of solar collectors is more economical.
Luckily we live in the times when the ruling elites start to understand the value of living in harmony with the nature on this planet. And solar power grants is a real case proof of it. If you want to switch to solar energy, please read more about how solar power grants and how exactly you can use these solar power grants for your living.
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