Types Of Solar Thermal Collectors

A solar collector is a device that collects and or concentrates solar radiation from the sun these devices are primarily used for active solar heating and allow for the heating of water for personal use.

Types of solar thermal collectors.

Batch solar water heaters also called integral collector storage systems have storage tanks or tubes inside an insulated box the south side. These collectors have glass or metal tubes with a vacuum allowing them to operate well in colder climates. Solar thermal power plants use concentrating solar collector systems because they can produce the high temperature heat needed to generate electricity. Are another common type of solar collector which have been in use since the 1950s.

Evacuated tube collectors are the most efficient but most costly type of hot water solar collectors. Types of solar thermal collectors. Learn more about evacuated tube collectors. Flat plate solar thermal systems.

For hot water the type of thermal collector will be defined by the final water temperature. For most cases 60 c the flat solar collector is usually sufficient. If you need water at a higher temperature to heat with radiators for example the vacuum tube collectors are more suitable. These collectors are generally mounted on the roof and must be very sturdy as they are exposed to a variety of different weather conditions.

The collector usually moves throughout the day so that it maintains a high degree of concentration on the absorber. The collector focuses or concentrates solar energy onto an absorber. Solar energy collectors are a special type of heat exchangers that convert solar radiation into thermal energy of the transport medium. Solar thermal collectors are either non concentrating or concentrating.

The major component of any solar thermal system is the solar collector which absorbs the incoming solar radiation converts it into heat and transfers this heat to a fluid usually air water or thermal oil.