Solar Energy

Prepared by: Arthur Carlos de Oliveira Fernandes RA RA 970 352 971 753 Guaronghi
Vinicius Mendes
A key feature of our society, at least under a practical point of view and mater
ial, is the growing increase in demand for energy supplies. This is the conditio
n for the existence of our industry, our transportation and even agriculture and
urban life. Finally, is the condition for the existence of our society as we kn
ow it. For thousands of years mankind has survived on the basis of manual labor
and animal. The first inanimate sources of energy such as water wheels and windm
ills, meant a significant quantitative increase of the system of work - or power
- but only produced qualitative leap from the seventeenth and eighteenth centur
ies. Note the magnitude of some "energy sources" (filmmakers working) quite comm
on:
Donkey Mule Man Power 80 W 180 W 370 W
Comments Up to 300 W during periods.
Boi Cavalo Watermill
500 W 750 W 1.5 to 1.8 kW power wheel with a diameter greater than 5 m.
Windmill machine steam car of 1000cc steam turbine
1.5 to 6.0 kW from 5.2 to 7.5 kW 45-60 kW up to 100 MW
Windmill typical. Type steady old.
The development of internal combustion engines and turbines of various boosted b
oth the potency of the various production units as the total number of existing
units and thus increased the production capacity of man and their fuel consumpti
on. The exponential growth of consumption began with the Industrial Revolution o
f the eighteenth century. Today over 98% of our energy comes from fossil fuels:
coal, oil and natural gas. As important as are the fossil fuel reserves are limi
ted and, as the interruption of consumption is practically impossible, the curre
nt rate of exploitation of these fuels is unsustainable. The oil and carbon, in
addition, are very important raw materials for the chemical industry and its was
te as fuel is at least a lack of vision. Until very recently it gave discarded b
y the exhaustion of energy. A common man simply unaware of the intricate network
formed by the production of fuel and the industry that serves the convenience.
The division of labor, pushed to the limit, was responsible for that position of
pure indifference - of thought: "No matter where you come if I get" - which pre
vailed in our consumer society. We did not realize the value inherent in what we
have. This is one of the causes of alienation, the division between private lif
e and society as a whole and the natural processes of which we depend. In recent
years, however, this picture has changed significantly. Ordinary people are bet
ter informed because of the increasing efficiency of the media, which leads to a
strengthening of common awareness on the need of maintaining our reserves of ex
haustible energy and technological development in the sector utilization of alte
rnative energy sources. The Sun, plus source of life is the source of all forms
of energy that man has used during its history and may be the answer to the ques
tion of
energy supply in the future, once we learn to take a rational way to light this
star constantly spilling over our planet. Shining over 5 billion years, it is es
timated that the sun still in focus for another 6 billion years, ie, it is only
half of its existence and will launch on Earth, only this year, 4000 times more
energy they consume. Given these realities, it would be irrational not to seek,
by all means technically possible, take advantage of this clean energy source, f
ree and inexhaustible. Discuss, from this point, the availability of energy from
the sun, the methods of capturing this energy and potential uses and applicatio
ns. The earth receives radiant energy of a system of 173x1015 W (*), emitting an
identical amount. This is a condition of balance. The issue depends on the temp
erature of the Earth, ie the temperature of the planet as we know it is the equi
librium temperature at which admission is equal to the emission of radiation. Th
us, if the admission changed for any reason, the equilibrium temperature would c
hange too.
(*) Projected area of the Earth = (6.3x106) 2 x 3.14 m2 = 124x1012; Solar Consta
nt = 1395 W/m2; Energy received = 124x1012 1395 = 173x1015 x W
Approximately 30% of incoming radiation reflected no change in wave amplitude. A
bout 47% is absorbed by the atmosphere and the surface causes an increase in tem
perature and then radiates back into space.€Only the remaining 23% penetrate the
earth and become the driving force of winds, currents, waves, our climate model
s and provides the water cycle. Ultimately, it will also be re-radiated to space
. Only 0.02% of the total, ie 40x1012 W enters the biological system, for photos
ynthesis, plants and other organisms "producers." A small proportion of the ener
gy stored as chemical energy in plants and tissues of animal bodies with accumul
ated over millions of years, under favorable geological conditions in the form o
f coal and mineral oils, converting them into our reserves of fossil fuels. This
is a fact: the rate of formation of fossil fuels (if any) is minimal compared w
ith the rate of consumption. If you wish to avoid a depletion of our fossil fuel
reserves, we should divert the flow of these important quantities of energy fro
m the sun and redirect them to work for us before they dissipate and are re-radi
ated into space, as illustrated in Figure below can distinguish basically three
ways to capture solar energy: chemical conversion and thermal electric conversio
n.
The most important chemical conversion of solar energy are the photo-biochemical
process. Biological organisms classified as producers synthesize carbohydrates
from water and carbon dioxide, absorbing and storing solar energy in the form of
chemical bonds. This energy is dissipated through the food chain and ultimately
is re-radiated to space. Direct conversion of solar energy into electrical ener
gy can occur through two processes: conversion thermoelectric and photoelectric
conversion, each of which can be accomplished in several ways. When it warms up
a lead, some of its electrons gain enough energy to escape. Converts into an ele
ctron emitter, a cathode. Another electrode placed near this cathode, it is cold
enough, and receive the emitted electrons, thus becoming one anode. If the anod
e connects to the cathode through a circuit containing an external load, a curre
nt will circulate and may be produced action. An electric current significantly,
however, can only produce very high temperatures. Circuit consisting of two dif
ferent conductors, if the two unions is maintained at different temperatures, al
so will generate an electric current, or potential difference, when one of the u
nions remains open. These "Thermocouples" can also be used to produce useful wor
k. When several of them are connected in series, form the so-called thermopile.
The union hot can be heated through a solar collector flat plate. Some semicondu
ctor materials can be doped with small quantities (about one part per million) i
n other similar elements, but with one electron more or one less electron than t
he semiconductor. The first is called N-type semiconductor and the second type P
. For example: Silicon + arsenic - Type N - one electron more. Silicon + boron t
ype - P - one less electron. Putting in touch thin layers of both, formed a diod
e, the electrons cross the PN board when exposed to radiation, generating an ele
ctric current (or potential difference) that can be used. This is the descriptio
n of a photodiode or photovoltaic cell. Mono-crystalline cells have a good incom
e but are very expensive. Polycrystalline cells are cheaper but have an income f
our times smaller. The methods of thermal conversion of solar energy is based on
the absorption of radiant energy by a black surface. This can be a complex proc
ess that varies by type of absorbent material. Involves diffusion, photon absorp
tion, electron acceleration, multiple collisions, but the final effect is the he
ating, ie the radiant energy of all grades (all wave amplitudes) are transformed
into heat. The molecules are excited surfaces, affecting an increase in tempera
ture. The absorption coefficient of various types of black absorbers varies betw
een 0.8 and 0.98 (the remaining 0.2 or 0.02 is reflected). Part of this molecula
r motion (or of heat) is transmitted to other parts of the body part for driving
and emits back to the environment by radiant and convective processes. The emis
sion of heat (heat loss) depends on the difference
temperature between the surface and the environment. As a result, as it warms th
e surface, increases heat loss. When the arrangements for admitting radiant heat
is matched to the heat loss, achieves a stable temperature. If the surface of t
he absorber plate is covered with a glass plate (with an air space of 20-30mm),
it reduces much heat loss,€without much reduction for acceptance of heat. This i
s due to selective transmittance of the crystal, which is very transparent to so
lar radiation of high temperature and short wave, but virtually opaque to infrar
ed radiation range of wavelengths, emitted by the absorber plate to about 100oC.
The thermal conversion of solar energy, and their applications will be more full
y addressed in the course of this presentation. Before, however, expose an overv
iew of the most common applications of all methods of capture above. Let us firs
t heat recovery systems (which, as already mentioned, we detail below). The heat
collected in the traps can be designed to meet many needs, from obtaining hot w
ater for domestic or industrial use, heating homes, schools, factories, even the
air conditioning of swimming pools. Another of the most promising applications
of solar heat will be cooled during the hot season, precisely when more insolati
on. In fact, for a cooling requires a "hot focus," which may well have its origi
n in a solar collector. In Arab countries already operate air conditioners that
use solar energy effectively. Agricultural applications are very extensive. Puri
fication plants and water desalination, dryers and ovens can operate with a grea
t saving, or even without any power consumption. Solar cells, solar panels arran
ged in already producing electricity in the first space satellites and, currentl
y, are a solution for rural electrification, with clear advantage over other alt
ernatives. The electrical energy obtained from these cells can be used directly,
as if to draw water from a well with an electric pump, or be stored in batterie
s for use overnight. It is also possible to insert the excess energy in the over
all network, obtaining a significant benefit.
If getting the price of photovoltaic cells decreases, starting its production in
large scale, it is very likely that, soon, a good portion of the energy consume
d in countries rich in solar radiation comes from photovoltaic conversion. Solar
cars also are in development, although its use is also uneconomical. Besides th
e solar cars, which store solar energy converted into batteries, there are also
hybrid cars that combine the technology of energy conversion via photovoltaic ce
lls with fuel cells (fuel cells). The energy obtained could be stored in batteri
es, can be used to produce hydrogen (by electrolysis of water), which feed the f
uel cell, which triggers the engine.
Solar homes are also very interesting applications, and architectural and a tech
nological challenge, which will deal with later. From here we will make a detail
ed study of methods of thermal conversion of solar energy and its uses and appli
cations The pickups are the most common form of energy harvesting, convert solar
energy to low-cost and convenient way. The general process used is the greenhou
se effect, the name comes from the application in greenhouses, where you can cre
ate exotic plants in cold climates, the best use of available solar energy. Like
the colors reflect radiation, dark colors absorb them and this absorption is gr
eater the closer they are the black, based on this property is that the absorber
s of pickups plans are painted matte black. The property of the black surface to
gether with the property that holds the glass to recover much of the radiation e
mitted by the black surface when the glass sheet is placed above the absorber pl
ate, was used for the conversion of radiant energy into thermal energy in the co
llector. When the temperature of the plate increases, it sends an increment of h
eat in the form of infrared light. The receiver has the properties of black body
black, high absorption rate, but high emission coefficient for all wavelengths.
The emission increases with temperature following the law of the fourth power o
f absolute temperature. The re-emitted light wavelength is progressively shorter
and higher energy with increasing temperature blackbody. This is expressed by W
ien's law, which can be written as:
where T is the temperature of the blackbody and λ max ength in the ight emissi
on peaks. The Sun emits radiation as a b ackbody whose surface temperature is ar
ound 5700oC, this corresponds to a maximum emission at 0.5 μ m.€A b ackbody radi
ation at room temperature with a maximum near 10 μ m, which is within the spectr
um of infrared ight, invisib e. G ass re ative y transparent to visib e ight i
s absorbent to infrared ight emitted by the b ack p ate when evacuates its ther
ma energy. The infrared ight absorbed by the g ass is re-emitted into the b ac
k p ate that absorbs again. More and more heat is accumu ated in the b ack p ate
, reaches the equi ibrium when the energy gained by absorption of visib e ight
is exact y ba anced by the oss of energy by infrared emission from the g ass p
ate. With increasing temperature, the wave ength of infrared emission becomes sh
orter. The 200oC (473 K), maximum radiation is emitted at about 6 μ m, compared
with 10 μ m at room temperature. Fina y, at about 500oC (773 K), most of the ra
diation wou d be emitted to 4 μ m, the wave ength whose g ass is partia y trans
parent to infrared. It fo ows that an efficient greenhouse effect is possib e o
n y be ow 500oC. However, un ess the concentration of so ar radiation is combine
d with the greenhouse effect, temperatures are much ower than equi ibrium becau
se in practice the equi ibrium temperature is reduced further by oss of heat fr
om the b ack p ate, due to therma conductivity and convection in air. A variant
of the greenhouse effect is shown in the figure be ow.
As for what concerns the infrared emission, p astic behaves simi ar y to the g a
ss, the infrared emission is absorbed by the hive and partia y radiated back. T
he performance of this design is re ated to the diameter of the ce s of the hiv
e and its height. Another kind of greenhouse effect exists and can be used indep
endent y or combined with the type of p ate g ass b ack / g ass. This effect is
based on se ective surfaces. Such surfaces have a high absorption coefficient in
the visib e and infrared spectrum. Un ike the b ack body, however, have a ow e
mission coefficient, ε = 0.02 for th
infrar
d, and a wav
l
ngth of 2 μ m, appro
ximate y. Therefore, a se ective surface a one, without a g ass p ate wi be he
at in the sun ight ike a g ass p ate b ack / g ass. The coatings are obtained b
y se ective deposition of fi ms of various meta s, eg nicke e ectro yte b ack o
r bery ium; meta oxides, for examp e copper oxide obtained chemica y on po is
hed a uminum, coba t oxide or nicke oxide, or ayers: Fe2O3, MgF2, SiO, SiN, de
posited by steam in order to obtain an interference effect in the ight. The si
icon and other semiconductors, with its high absorptance in the visib e range an
d infrared transmission spectroscopy, materia s are a so se ective. It is import
ant to combine a high absorptivity with a high ratio of absorptance / emittance.
Be ow we show some properties of some se ective coatings.
Fi m
So ar absorptance α
Sol r emitt nce ε
P
rformanc
factor ε 3.7 12
D
ntítrico Tungst
n Nick
l Silv
r on Black Silicon
0.96 0.76
0.26 0.06 (773 K)
0.90
0.08 (573 K)
11
Black Chrom

0.98
0.19 (573 K)
5.1
Black chrom
on nick
l silv
r Zr Ny
0.93 0.85
0.19 (573 K) 0.03 (600 K)
4.8 24
on silv
r
Th
m
chanism in s
l
ctiv
surfac
s is th
following: s
tting up tub
s on th
pl
at
, which ar
incorporat
d in it. A liquid circulat
d through th
tub
s and car
ri
s th
h
at to th
consum
r. Th
plat
s r
c
iving th
tub
s ar
mount
d on a m
at
rial with low th
rmal conductivity. In practic
this d
sign is v
ry in
ffici

nt, b
caus
of loss of h
at to th
ambi
nt air in contact with th
h
at
d plat
.
So a glass plat
is always us
d, b
caus
not only radiat
s back half of th
th

rmal radiation, but also isolat
s th
plat
h
at
d conv
ction air. Th
n
w d
vic

r
ach
s 150oC, if no h
at is
xtract
d from it. Its p
rformanc
can b
improv

d furth
r by
liminating most of th
loss
s du
to air conv
ction, th
air b
tw


n th
glass plat
and th
plat
absorption is
vacuat
d, th
constant t
mp
ratu
r
r
gim
can ris

v
n mor
.
That
ffici
ncy could b
achi
v
d with flat plat
coll
ctors? Th
r
is no simpl

answ
r to this qu
stion, b
caus
th
r
ar
a whol
rang
of incom
s, d
p
nding
not only on th
param
t
rs of th
proj
ct, but also th
int
nsity of light and w

ath
r conditions, t
mp
ratur
minimum d
mand, rat
of
xtraction of h
at, and o
th
rs. Anoth
r complication is that th
yi
ld of a particular coll
ctor is not c
onstant throughout th
day: as an unh
at
d room that initially r
quir
s an
xtra
h
at b
for
r
aching a constant t
mp
ratur
, th

ntir
coll
ctor, that is, gla
ss, absorb
r m
tal and insulation around it and air it contains, must b
h
at
d
by th
sun in th
morning,€aft
r a cold night. Th
r
for
, all solar coll
ctors o
p
rat
at maximum output in th
aft
rnoon wh
n th
th
rmal in
rtia of th
syst
m
was unsucc
ssful.








In normal
 op ration, th ov rall ffici ncy of  a flat plat coll ctor, η c, ny
sol r t erm lcollector c n be expressed s t e product of n optic l yield η oe
 yield of t erm l ccumul tion, η t. T e optic l perform nce is in first ppro
xim tion,
 independent ofoper ting temper ture of t e system
 nd t e intensity
 o
f lig t but depends
 on
 t e ngle of incidence of lig t. T e yield of t erm
 l cc
umul tion,
 on t e ot er nd, is function of system  temper ture nd lig t inte
nsity. T e perform
 nce of  given e t sink is ig ly dependent on your loc tion
. In regions w ere most
 of t e time t esol r intensity is dversely ffected by
clouds, fog, nd ot er types of tmosp eric bsorption, t e ver ge yield c n b
  
 nti lly lower
e subst  t n t e sunny climtes nd m y even proveto be impr ctic
l t e use of sol r e ting during p rt t e ye r. In ny c se, t e useof sol r
collectors requires   c reful design,  t king into ccount det ils of t e clim ti
c conditions of t e loc l user. T is requires precise me surements of t e profil
e of sol r intensity over d ys, weeks nd ye rs.
  
T e domestic pplic tion of t e pickups  were present in s nit ry w ter e ting,
e ting of pools nd environments.  Te e ting of s nit ry w ter isquite simple
, usu lly consisting of tubes t roug w ic w ter p sses, next to t e collector.
     
T e circul  tion of w ter t roug t e collector is gu r nteed  by te effect of t
ermo-sip
 on, c used by convection by gr vity, ie, wit t e sun,t e e ted fluid
in t e collector moves upw rds, bec use its density is lower t n for non- e te
d fluid. At
     
circuit being  closed, t e ot fluid in turn  is repl ced by cold, w ic t en  is
e ted in t e collector nd moves upw rd. T e movement  continues  to sp rk t t co
ntinues to sink   under t e  ction of r  di tion from t e sun T e speed of movement
incre ses wit t e intensity of insol tion.
  
To ensure  perm nent production of ot w ter,  even inperiods "wit out t eSun
', you must ssoci te  convention l w ter e ter to t e sol r system, ie t e pi
ckup lone is not  r di tor full, you  must dd to it  pipe  circul tion pump
nd especi lly  system of uxili ry  e ting, convention l. T e w rm pool is giv
en by  sepr te sol r collector. T e collector is inst lled round t e pool lik
e  grid. T e collector itself  c n be very simple, consisting  of  s eet p inted
bl ck, enc sed in pl stic. T e pool
 w  ter is fed to
 t e collector by  pump,
 m
y be t e s me filter pump,  nd t en p  sses  cross t e front nd b
  ck of t e  t
pl
e before returning to t e pool. An re  pproxim tely equ  l to t e pool in t es
ink, it needsto r ise t e w ter  temper ture of 1 o C. W
 en we spe  k of sp  ce e
ting, sol   r omes remember,
 t ey re not  new ide . T e first w  s built
 in t e
30s int e U.S. (sol r ouses of  t e M ss c usetts Institute of Tec
   nology) nd
from t e 60s in Europe,  being
 t e first in Odeillo.  Well, s wit t e e tingo
f s nit ry w ter, we ve t e problem of storing e t t ll during t e d y, w e
n energy
 is c ptured,
 t e period is less  need, unless we ve  system t t s ve
s t is energy 
 s e t in Our fluid,
   t e system is useless
 w en we need im most 
emeets us. T eprocess by w ic t e fluid keeps t e power is noting  t n
 more
t t given by t e simple equ tion of c lorimetry ve le rned in ig sc ool.
Our Q is me sured t C l (c lories), m g (gr ms), Δ θ is our variation of temper
ature (K) and c is the specific heat, it gives the ability to store energy as he
at of the substance, so is given in Cal / gK, water this value is 1. In addition
to the collectors, we need other means that allow us to store this energy at ni
ght. These systems include:
1. A system of heat transfer to evacuate the solar heat sink (pipe). 2. A therma
l storage. 3. A regulation system.
In temperate climates, in any case it is possible to dispense with conventional
heating an integrated support to the solar heating system. Without storage, as m
entioned above, the solar system provide heating only at times of peak radiation
, when there is no real need. The objective of this therefore is, lagged the tra
nsfer of solar energy, to ensure their distribution in the mornings and at night
cloudy, when heating is needed. We can store this in two ways: one is to heat a
convenient mass of any substance,€the amount of heat stored below the euation
described above, depending on the mass, temperature variation and the substance
was isolated from the storage is sufficient, the heat can be used later when the
storage material in contact with the fluid so as water or air, acting as a tran
sfer medium, the second way is to exploit the phase changes that occur in every
substance. To take the example of water when the ice to 0 o C is transformed int
o the same water temperature, the heat supplied is euivalent to what was necess
ary at this same body of water to raise its temperature from 0 to 80oC. Below we
show some characteristics of substances which are particularly suited to heat s
torage.
Substance
Melting point
Specific Heat (Cal / g K)
Density (kg/m3)
Thermal storage capacity
(KWh/m3) (Sensible Heat Water kWh/103Kg Steel 1 0.12 1000 7900 58 (± 50 o C) 54
(± 50 o C)
58 (5 ± 6.9 (±
Basalt Latent Heat Paraffin wax Na2S2O2. 5H2O molten salts (NaNO3)
38oC 49oC
0.2 0.7 0.4
2960 890 1460
35 (± 50 o C) 53 (± 0 o C) 115 (± 0 o)
12 (± 5
60 (± 0
68 (± 0
265oC heat dissociation MgClH2O ↔ MgCl + H2O Reaction Reversible PbO2 Pb0 ↔ +1 /
2O
0.38
2250
496 (± 360oC) 190
220 (±
640
Paraffin wax and Glauber's salt (Na2SO4.10 H2O) are substances whose usual phase
change provides a possibility of thermal storage in general the advantage of th
is process using the latent heat (temperature change) is the volume of savings s
torage, for example for the same heat capacity, a store with Glauber's salt woul
d have a volume twice that of a water, but there are also disadvantages: a price
, Glauber's salt is infinitely more expensive than water, other than storage for
it presents serious difficulties because of their strong predisposition to segr
egation. Escolhese therefore preferably a water system. Account is currently 0.0
6 to 0.12 m3 of water storage per m2 of collector installed.
A great approach this subject in this way to integrate different components to a
n operating system. This issue involves several aspects, not all technical in na
ture. Start integrate thermal collectors to the homes, which raises problems in
the architectural, technical and social. In industrialized countries and develop
ing countries, there is resistance against the construction of a concrete home,
geometric, outside of urban areas. The solar collectors should then be integrate
d harmoniously in an acceptable style of architecture, even at the cost of reduc
ed performance. In practice, this is not always easy, particularly if the collec
tor is black and should be used on the south side (ie in the northern hemisphere
) or north (southern hemisphere) of a solar house, the south face - at least in
cold climates - is where most of the windows is usually placed. This would cause
an aesthetic problem and would cause people to avoid such a house. To minimize
these problems, the trends are collecting colored collectors installed on roof a
nd extensive, thus avoiding partial or complete obstruction of the south walls o
f the buildings.
Closely related to the architectural problem is the choice of technical concept,
design and dimensioning of the heating system environment. The house with solar
heating can be drawn to many different concepts originating in all possible com
binations of the basic components.
The figure above shows the principle of solar houses the oldest, built in Washin
gton in 1959. The southern is almost entirely taken by a solar collector attache
d to a water circuit. Cold water is pumped to the entry at the top of the collec
tor. After heating, the water flows into the storage tank or foundation, which i
s surrounded by 50 tons of stone. In a second circuit, a fan forces air into the
storage tank, where it circulates around heated stones and is then released int
o the habitable space. An auxiliary heating system is arranged to inject hot wat
er, where sunlight is inadeuate. You can make modifications in the design of so
lar home made. For example, the storage tank could be insulated, and the seconda
ry circuit of air removed. Instead, the living space would be heated by a second
ary water circuit connected to the water tank, as in a conventional system of ce
ntral heating. The primary circuit of water can not be used directly, because th
e water is cooled in the collector where radiation is insufficient water flow in
the primary circuit must of course be disrupted at these times. In a second mod
ification of the basic design,€the phase change materials could be integrated in
to the storage tank, to reduce its volume and heat loss. A more fundamental chan
ge could be achieved through eliminandose water, changing the air as the transfe
r medium circuit
primary, ie, the circuit of the collector. The heat could be stored in rocks or
phase change substances such as Glauber's salt. There are certain problems with
the solar houses, the climate, the isolation factor. During the three summer mon
ths, when demand is almost zero, radiation is highest, while in winter, the situ
ation is reversed. Occurs immediately the idea of a store in the summer portion
of the excess heat to use it during the winter months. More than half of global
demand on space heating is produced during the winter months: December, January
and February in the northern hemisphere. To store this amount of heat in the sum
mer, would reuire a storage volume of 500 m3, where storage is done with water.
500 m3 represent, for example taking a house in Havre in 1975, with a volume of
290 m3 (116 m2 area), nearly double the volume of the house! And what is worse,
it would take a perfectly insulated container, which can not run today. The onl
y possible solution is to capture heat during the winter months, for immediate u
se. But in the area in uestion, receiving only 6.5% of annual radiation, becaus
e in winter, heat stroke is freuently altered by an overcast sky. A reduction i
n solar radiation decreases the yield of the collector. In the month the worst s
olar heating system of the house chosen as an example supplied only 3% of the de
mand for heating. Would theoretically have an area of 1500 m2 of collectors to p
rovide the energy reuired for that month. One such area is virtually impossible
for a single residence and would be too expensive. We must therefore abandon th
e idea of relying entirely on solar energy for space heating, at least in unfavo
rable climates in winter months. All home have already built a solar installatio
n auxiliary electric or oil for heating. It follows, then, that attempts to buil
d houses 'superinsulation' or 'zero energy' resulted in failure, because it show
s warming is impossible to 100% by solar energy in winter.
Given the high cost of traditional solar homes, the experts felt the need to aba
ndon the parties attached to an active solar house, circulation pump, pipeline,
storage net, which significantly increase its cost. The figure below shows the p
rinciple of passive solar house.
A south façade serves time for absorption and storage. It consists of a thick wa
ll of glass and a pitch so placed as to leave space for air circulation. The air
is heated by the sun and placed inside the house by thermosiphon effect. Heat a
cuitted by air is available for immediate use. A portion of the heat penetrates
the wall where it is stored, although the interior surface of the wall re-emit
some heat. The time to heat the heat needed to cross the wall depends on the the
rmal conductivity of the rock, the temperature difference between exterior and i
nterior surfaces of the wall and the wall thickness. The thermal conductivity of
the stone is nearby 2Wm-1K-1. This means that if a meter thick, it takes an hou
r to 100 Wh passing through a wall of 1 m2 of surface with the 50 ° C temperatur
e difference between the two sides of the wall. The wall thickness can be chosen
so that most of the heat reaches the inside wall after sunset of the Sun's simp
licity and therefore its relatively low cost give interest to what is called, in
Anglo-Saxon literature , 'Trombe wall'. Finally, the term 'passive solar house'
means an overall architectural concept well engineered. You can say you have to
assemble the house its natural environment solar optimally in the energy plan a
nd aesthetic.
Thus, it is the windows let in a maximum amount of light in cold climates, and l
east in hot climates, have a storage capacity inherent to the walls and other bu
ilding elements, involving, where possible, plants, a greenhouse or garden winte
r to the wall where there is heat to the exterior. The Sun took the most differe
nt positions - the god of the center of our planetary system - the history of ma
nkind, but man has always acknowledged its undeniable importance and beauty. The
end of this millennium, we again turn our gaze to the sun and watching for one
of his imminent positions: an alternative source of energy for our future.€We kn
ow that our fossil fuel reserves will be depleted and we should prepare for this
, learning to handle the energy that the Sun launches free on our planet. The me
thods of capturing and converting solar energy currently have an income much les
s than theoretically possible. The prices of euipment needed to replace a conve
ntional system of obtaining energy for a system that transforms the radiant ener
gy from the sun has become, in most cases, this option impractical or uninterest
ing. We must work to reverse this reality, developing the technology of this sec
tor in order to achieve the maximum performance in their euipment, making its u
se feasible.
Currently there are several applications, some dais which we present in this exh
ibition, albeit very briefly, because of the variety and complexity of the issue
s. We hope to encourage use and improvement of these methods, as well as researc
h on new ways of harnessing solar energy.
Bibliography
1. Solar Energy EDIFICACION y; Szokolay, S. See, Editorial Blume, 1978. 2. Solar
and Alternative Energy Sources; Palz, Wolfgang, Hemus Livraria Editora
Limited, 1981.
Images
• •
Figures: digitized from the figures of reference [2] Photos:-Comptons Interactiv
e Encyclopedia, 1995 - New Grolier Multimedia Encycloedia, Release 6, 1993 - Int
ernet.