Report on Solar Power Collectors: Technology and Future Innovations

This report provides an overview of solar power collector technology, highlighting both non-concentrating and concentrating solar collectors. It details the components and functionality of each type, emphasizing the significance of solar energy as a renewable resource. Furthermore, the report explores future innovations in the field, including advancements in solar windows, energy storage using gold particles, solar sprays, crystalline structures for increased efficiency, and improvements in concentrating solar power systems. It references research from various sources, pointing towards ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency and commercial viability of solar energy technologies, making this document available on Desklib, a platform offering a wide array of study resources for students.

SOLAR POWER COLLECTOR AND FUTURE INNOVATION
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Introduction:
With the deficiency of conventional non renewable fuel for heating, the dependency
on natural renewable energy source has increased. The most efficient renewable
resource is Solar power. To use this solar power and reduce the heat loss, solar
power collectors are used. The solar power collectors are used for collection of solar
energy as well as concentrate the solar energy to increase its power. The solar
power collectors are installed on roof top for personal use or in large field for
commercial use. As the solar collectors are installed and exposed to atmosphere the
structure should be strong enough to withstand the wind velocity as well as the heat
and cold condition.
The solar heat collector is alternative to traditional heating equipment thereby saving
the cost significantly. The solar cell installed over the solar heat collector produced
electricity by usage of semiconductors. Also these collectors are installed with
connectors. The collector is producing electricity in AC form and invertor is used to
convert AC to DC current.
Significance:
 Non Concentrating Solar Collector: Here the collector area is same as the
absorber area. Flat plate collector are most used type. This type of collectors are
used where the requirement of temperature is less than 200 F. The three
main components of this collector
 Flat Plate: To absorb and intercept solar energy
 Transparent Cover: Allow the sun light to pass through it and blocks the heat
loss from absorber
 Layer of Insulation: Prevents heat loss. [Online]
Fig 1: Non Concentrating Collector

Metal tubes are attached to the absorber and transfer of heat from absorber to the
storage tank happened by these tubes. These types of collectors are mainly used for
heating of water and air. It has a advantage of low maintenance cost. [Online]
 Concentrating Solar Collector: In this type the collector are is more than
absorber area and concentrating the solar energy by a parabolic path. This can
produce a high temperature.
Fig 2: Concentrating Collector
Here the main components are
 Parabolic troughs
 Parabolic Dish
 Absorber Pipe
 Structure
The Absorber pipe is the most important component is also know as Heat Collection
Element. It has long tubes with glass envelope around it. As in this type the main
heat heat is through convection, vacuum is created between the tube and the glass
envelope to reduce the convection heat loss. The tubes are painted with Black
Chrome to absorb more solar radiation. It has a high efficiency with only 10% heat
loss. [Online]

These types are used for large power generation up to 100 MW. Though it has high
maintenance, but it has a ability to produce high Energy. Also the parabolic dish does
not require orientation according to the sun position. [Online]
Innovation of Solar Collector:
1. The National Renewable Energy Labrotory has created a window to produce
electricity by passing the sun light through that window. The material of the window is
advance materials using nano technology (Carbon Nano tubes). But the performance
is not yet efficient as it is dependent on the sun light intensity and scientist are
working to improve the efficiency. [Online]
It is far away from commercialization but it will be a resolution in solar energy.
2. Some researcher in Australia have discovered how to store solar energy in fuel.
They are using gold particles to convert it to methane and methanol. But they have
not identified a way to produce it in large volume. Though chemical energy storage is
not new but the approach of increasing the efficiency by focusing nano cluster is
important. [Online]
3. Some British Company has invented a solar spray to increase the power
generation capacity of the solar collectors. It is done by mixing perovskites with a
liquid solution that can be sprayed which is more efficient than the conventional
Silicon products. [Online]
4. A team of Stanford university has claimed a mineral having crystalline structure
has more efficiency in converting the sun light to energy. This new crystalline
structure would allow perovskites to endure manufacturing and for long term use.
This can be used mostly for the parabolic dish of concentrating collector. [Online]
5. Concentrating Solar Power has a advance technology for commercialization of
solar energy. Large number of Heliostats are laid across to absorb the sunlight and
reflects them to the central tower. The heliostats has two mirror and a motor to track
the sun. But a researchers are finding a way to use a single motor for several
heliostats to move the mirror to track the sun. This will be more efficient and
saves a lots of energy. [Online]

Reference
Solar Thermal Energy for Utilities and Industry (no date), Pennstate. [Online]
Available at: https://www.e-education.psu.edu/eme811/node/682 [Accessed
13th April 2019]
Solar Thermal Collector (no date), U.S. Energy Information Administration. [Online]
Available at: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.php?
page=solar_thermal_collectors [Accessed 13th April 2019]
Parabolic Trough Power Plant (no date). Parabolic Trough Power Plant. [Online].
Available at: https://www.mtholyoke.edu/~wang30y/csp/PTPP.html [Accessed on
13th April 2019]
5 Solar Innovations That Will Make Engineers Giddy (no date). Renewable Energy
World. [Online]. Available at:
https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2017/11/5-solar-innovations-to-
watch-in-2018.html [Accessed on 13th April 2019]