Description
SPRINGER Solar Thermal Energy (Hb 2022) by ALEXOPOULOS S.
This volume of the Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology, Second Edition, describes technologies that actively convert solar radiation into useful heat in a temperature range from just above ambient up to more than 1,000 DegreesC. Applications cover a broad range of energy services such as space heating, cooking, domestic hot water supply, electrical power generation, and high temperature thermochemical processes. The major developments that have led to currently available technologies for solar thermal energy applications were initiated mainly after the first oil shock in 1973. Solar thermal energy is widely used already for heating purposes (water, space) in the "low" temperature range up to about 100 DegreesC employing mainly nonconcentrating collectors, whereas higher temperatures can be achieved with more sophisticated solar collector technologies. Temperatures over 200 DegreesC typically require concentrating solar radiation using mirror systems. Several different technologies are described in detail in this volume, including solar collector systems in the lower temperature range, the direct use of solar radiation for food processing, namely cooking and drying, the production of electricity through conversion of solar radiation first to heat, driving a mechanical conversion system coupled to an electric generator, the use of solar radiation to drive chemical processes, and many more. Concentrating Receiver Systems (Solar Power Tower).- Linear Fresnel Collectors.- Solar Collectors, Non-concentrating.- Solar Cookers and Dryers to Conserve Human and Planet Health.- Solar Cooling Systems.- Thermal Energy Storage.- Solar Energy in Thermochemical Processing.- Solar updraft towers.- Solar Detoxification and Disinfection of Water.- Solar Thermal Desalination.- Parabolic Trough Solar Technology.- Solar Thermal Energy, Introduction.