Solar Thermal (Forced Circulation) Energy Trainer
Description: This trainer demonstrates solar thermal energy principles with pumped circulation technologies. Solar-thermal energy systems directly convert available solar energy (sunlight) into heat energy. The gathered energy is typically used for space heating and domestic hot water supply applications in place of older, more environmentally intensive technologies. The most common types of solar-thermal systems use water (or in some special cases a water/glycol mix) to store and transport the heat energy collected by the solar arrays. There are two distinct solar thermal system technologies commonly employed: systems that use natural convection to circulate water within the system, and systems that use pumps to circulate water in the system.
Forced-convection solar thermal systems use pumps to force the water to circulate through the system. While slightly more complex to build and maintain over the passive thermosyphon type solar thermal systems, forced convection systems show large advantages in the amount of solar energy captured in a given time. It is also possible to reach significantly higher temperatures with these systems. Forced convection type solar thermal systems are suited for use in colder climates in which temperatures fall below the freezing temperature of water. Typically with forced convection type systems, a water/glycol mix is circulated through the solar arrays (which are outside) and a heat exchanger system is used to transfer the stored energy to the potable water system.
To provide for student understanding of solar thermal systems this trainer comprises a complete energy system including solar panels, panel supports, energy storage water tanks, control and data acquisition modules plus manuals covering student exercises, instructor operating notes and technical documentation. Systems are constructed from commercially available components and subsystems, with enhanced instrumentation for improved student understanding (combined with the custom designed training modules). Note that these are real working systems intended for the solar panels to be located outside in natural sunlight.
Equipment Specification Highlights:
Free circulation (thermosyphon) type water heater demonstrator supplied with:
- Stainless steel support structure with casters to facilitate moving in and outdoors
- Two different kinds of flat-plate solar collectors and one evacuated tube collector
- Solar collectors are mounted on three sides to allow for individual orientation towards the sun
- Solar collector can be manually aligned through 2 degrees of freedom
- Integrated temperature and water flow measurement systems
- Auxiliary hardware included:
- Hot water tank capacity (100 liter nominal capacity)
- Cooling water tank (approximately 200 liter nominal capacity)
- Electric pumps for primary (heating) and secondary (cooling) water circulation
- Digital solar radiation measuring device
- Software for measuring, monitoring and data storage (PC hardware optionally available)
- Available in all world voltages / frequencies (customer to specify electrical power available on-site)
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STT2-PC-120-60 (for 120 VAC 60 Hz)
STT2-PC-240-50 (for 240 VAC 50 Hz)
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