Weather & Environment Blog

The term thermal solar power refers to systems that convert solar radiation into useful heat. This is also referred to as passive solar energy. It is a different type of system from solar power electricity, and whose usefulness should not be overlooked.

The uses for thermal solar power are widespread and varied. Just think of any process which could utilize heat. This could range from something simple such as hot water heating, to more sophisticated designs involve stirling engines or industrial grade steam.

For most folks, thermal solar power will be limited to heating up a hot water tank, or storing heat for the workshop or house. These systems are inexpensive to incorporate, especially when designing a new home.

Pebble bed heat exchangers are another application for thermal solar power. They are like the thermodynamic equivalent of a water tank. They give us a nice reservoir with which to store and distribute excess energy.

Applications for pebble bed heat exchangers include radiant heating in and around our homes. They can be integrated into greenhouses, saunas, or even in your family rooms. Pebble bed heat exchangers are made from natural materials, and can be an attractive feature in any home.

The typical operating temperature of a basic thermal solar power system will be somewhere between 100F and 200F. For high performance designs, up to 700F has been achieved for making high pressure steam. The exact temperatures we can obtain will depend entirely on the solar collector design and your system’s needs.

Solar collectors are designed to achieve a certain operating temperature. Flat plate and evacuated tube collectors are very effective at lower system temperatures. Parabolic trough and concentrating collectors are required for higher system temperatures. The solar collector is quite possibly the most important component in your thermal solar power system. It is the thermodynamic engine and should be selected thoroughly and carefully.

The solar collector will transfer heat to a circulating fluid, whose flow is driven by a small pump. Depending on the system design temperature and operating environment, this fluid may be water, glycol, or oil. The circulating fluid is like the life blood of thermal solar power system by moving the energy to all the users.

Thermal solar power is a good first step for anyone getting involved with solar energy, and especially those with good amounts of Sun. The simplicity, potential savings, and environmental benefits make them an easy decision for those retrofitting or building a new home.

We believe thermal solar power to be a steadily growing market into the future, due to a growing awareness of energy conservation and reverting back to our natural ways. Thermal solar power is one good way to do this. The Sun is free, and we receive its energy each and every day. Solar hot water, home heating, and pebble bed heat transfer systems are simple to incorporate and easy to use. We believe their popularity will gain in years to come.