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Environmental Technology > Ch 8: Energy from the Sun > Flashcards

Ch 8: Energy from the Sun Flashcards

1
Q

What are the components on a solar thermal system?

A

A solar collector, an energy transfer system and a storage tank.

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2
Q

What are the 2 types of solar collectors?

A

Flat plate solar collectors and evacuated tubes.

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3
Q

What are the benefits of a passive solar heating system?

A
  1. Where high solar radiation occurs the heat transfer fluid receives energy more quickly and its temperature rises rapidly.
  2. No pumps are required reducing initial costs and running costs.
  3. The system tends to have less maintenance requirements. But to ensure this the storage tank must be placed above the collector.
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4
Q

What are the benefits of an active thermal heating system?

A
  1. Storage tanks isn’t placed on the solar collector so it reduces the visual impact.
  2. Can be better insulated.
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5
Q

What does solar PV stand for?

A

Solar PhotoVoltaic

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6
Q

Where can solar PV systems be used?

A
  1. Remote homes where connection to the grid may not be possible or expensive.
  2. Communications satellites in space.
  3. Communications and remote monitoring of infrastructure on earth.
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7
Q

What is a single axis tracking system?

A

Allows the solar collectors to turn towards the east or west to track the sun’s positioning during the course of the day. It is positioned on the north west axis.

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8
Q

What are the advantages of single axis tracking system?

A
  1. Energy output is higher by as much as 25%.
  2. The repayment period is reduced.
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9
Q

What are the disadvantages of single axis tracking system?

A
  1. Expensive as there are complex mechanical and electrical equipment required.
  2. Some of the electricity produced from the system is used for the tracking system.
  3. Restricted to higher solar radiation regions.
  4. When the front panel faces the sun, the back panel will have a shadow.
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10
Q

What is a dual axis tracking system?

A

It is built onto the single axis tracking system. This tracking system has an additional degree of rotation which lies on the east west plane, which allows the system to be rotated on the north south plane which more closely aligns the collectors with the sun.

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11
Q

What are the advantages of a dual axis tracking system?

A
  1. The energy output will be higher by as much as 35% in warmer climates.
  2. The repayment periods are reduced.
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12
Q

What are the disadvantages of a dual axis tracking system?

A
  1. Expensive as there are complex mechanical and electrical equipment required.
  2. Some of the electricity produced from the system is used for the tracking system. The quantity of energy required is greater than single axis tracking system.
  3. Restricted to higher solar radiation regions, which makes it unfeasible in NI.
  4. When the front panel faces the sun, the back panel will have a shadow. This happens in the EW plane and the NS plane so less panels can be installed per unit area.
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13
Q

How can an automated solar tracking system maximise the energy output from the solar collectors?

A
  • It can tilt and rotate on its own axis to achieve optimum tracking.
  • It can track the variations in the sun’s position during daylight hours.
  • It can track the annual variations in the sun’s position during years.
  • It can adjust according to location in northern or southern hemispheres.
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14
Q

What is the operation of a flat plate collector?

A

The sun’s energy is captured by the absorber plate and transferred to the water which heats up a tank in a house.

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15
Q

What is the use of a glazing sheet on a flat plate collector?

A
  1. Increase the solar radiation transmitted through it to the absorber plate.
  2. Reduce as far as possible the heat losses back through conduction and convection.
  3. Protect the system from rain and weather conditions.
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16
Q

What are the advantages of a flat plate collector?

A
  1. Cheapest collector.
  2. Suited to colder environments.
  3. The efficiency of converting solar energy into thermal energy is good at around 80%.
17
Q

What are the disadvantages of a flat plate collector?

A
  1. Heat losses even with insulation.
  2. Efficiency drops in warmer weather (above 30 C).
  3. Requires 2 people to install.
  4. Will only be directly facing the sun once per day as the collector is flat.
  5. The weight of the panel and the heat transfer fluid can impose loads on the roof.
18
Q

What are the advantages of an evacuated tube solar collector system?

A
  1. The tubes are circular so they face the sun for most of the day.
  2. Heat losses through conduction and convection are almost 0.
  3. Less load on the roof as the system is not fully filled with the heat transfer fluid.
  4. Higher efficiencies at almost 90%.
  5. One person needs to install.
  6. Can be stored vertically, so transportation costs are low.
19
Q

What are the disadvantages of an evacuated tube solar collector system?

A
  1. Higher cost than a flat plate collector.
  2. Not able to melt snow hue to lower heat losses through conduction and convection.
20
Q

What are the comparisons of the 2 types of solar collectors?

A
  • Both solar collectors transfer solar energy to water in a storage tank via a pipe network containing a fluid, often water.
  • In a flat plate collector, the absorber plate is in direct contact with the pipe network. In evacuated tube collector, the absorber plate is contained in a vacuum tune and is not in direct contact with the pipe network.
  • Evacuated tube solar collectors are more efficient that flat plate collectors. A smaller area of evacuated tube solar collectors is required to deliver the same heat energy as flat plate solar collectors.
21
Q

What are the factors which should be considered when calculating the roof area required to install solar collectors?

A
  • Solar radiation levels
  • Shading
  • Collector type
  • Family size
  • Lifestyle of users
22
Q

What are the benefits to households of installing a flat plate solar collector?

A
  • Reducing environmental impact
  • Reduced costs
  • Energy security
23
Q

What is the main benefit to a household of installing a flat plate collector?

A

The primary advantage of the flat plate collector compared to the evacuated tube is cost. While it is less efficient, it costs less.

Environmental Technology (7 decks)

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