Solar Thermal (Thermosyphon) Energy Trainer
Description: This trainer demonstrates solar thermal energy and thermosyphon circulation principles. 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 cold climates 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.
The natural convection (thermosyphon) type of solar thermal energy system is typically used in lower cost applications due to its simple system design features. These systems are ideally suited to applications where the outdoor ambient temperature remains above the freezing point of water. The thermosyphon type solar thermal energy system typically circulates the potable water directly through the solar collector arrays.
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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STT1-NC-120-60 (for 120 VAC 60 Hz)
STT1-NC-240-50 (for 240 VAC 50 Hz)
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