Solar | Hydro | Wind | Tutorial
Solar Thermal (Hot Water) - Collector panels absorb sunlight to heat water.
Solar water heating typically feeds into your conventional heating system. Cold water from either your well or municipality is heated by the free energy of the sun, and then moves on to your conventional water heater - electric, oil, gas, propane, or wood fired - for any additional heating that may be required. Most modern solar hot water systems use pumps which are also solar powered - by a small photovoltaic (or PV) panel - so that the system only activates when the sun is up, and so that no grid power is necessary.
Solar Thermal (Hot Air) - Collector panels absorb sunlight to heat air.
Solar collectors are also constructed that heat air. The hot air developed in such collectors can be used directly in the home during the daytime or stored in massive materials (rock or water). http://www.eren.doe.gov/erec/factsheets/heat.html
Solar Thermal (Power) - Solar energy can be used for more than just heating, they can be used for power generation with steam or stirling engines. See Engine Technology
Salinity-Gradient Solar Technologies (Solar Pond) - Salinity-gradient solar technologies is a generic name given to the application of a salinity gradient in a body of water for the purpose of collecting and storing solar energy. One type of salinity-gradient technology is called the salinity-gradient solar pond. Solar ponds generally utilize a one- to two meter salinity gradient and operate at moderately high temperatures. http://www.webconx.com/solarpond.htm
Solar Hot Water, Heating and Cooling Systems
Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors
Info:
INTERNATIONAL SOLAR COLLECTORS, INC. -
Welcome to ISC, Inc. - Home of the least expensive method for Electrical Generation in the World*
-The Solar Thermal Trough Collector
We conduct Research and Development in the solar thermal technology area. We are researching an inexpensive, alternative and renewable electrical power source, for ranchers, farmers and homeowners . We intend to meet the desire of the general public and Developing Nations, to be completely energy self-sufficient. If one lives in Sunbelt regions it makes no sense to pay up to six times the costs incurred by commercial PV systems. Wind power is a great renewable energy source, and the costs are coming down, but again if you are in a solar region, with sparse amounts of wind, solar thermal is the only choice. Solar thermal energy is eminently practical and soon to be available to all home power enthusiasts.
Solar Absorption & Emissivity. - http://www.redrok.com/concept.htm#emissivity
Solar Chimneys, Heliostats, and Stirling engines - http://www.sbp.de/proj.html?category=Solar+Power+Plants&ftitle=1
These pages describe the design of a temperature logger. This logger is the first phase of a Solar Heated Water Controller I'm currently designing. On these pages you will find the PIC (16C84, DS1820) firmware source, hardware schematic, and logging / monitoring applications. http://www.anotherurl.com/therm/default.htm
IT'S THE DAWNING OF A NEW DAY and, while the sun breaks the horizon, the thermometer outside reads "-15 degrees Celsius". As is common on the coldest days in winter, it is bright and sunny. Your solar hot water collectors are beginning their daily ritual of warming up so that they can begin to transfer heat into the house; heat for your shower or for your living room. http://www.generationsolar.com/articles/shw.htm
Solar Power Heliostat Arrays. http://www.redrok.com
The solar shower gives an alternative during the summer months, and it is also a good demonstration of a thermosiphon. http://forums.cosmoaccess.net/forum/survival/prep/solheat.htm
http://forums.cosmoaccess.net/forum/survival/prep/library2/hotwater.htm
Solar water heating is a renewable energy technology that is well proven and readily available and has considerable potential for application at federal facilities. Solar water-heating systems can be used effectively throughout the country and most facilities will have an appropriate near-south-facing roof or nearby unshaded grounds for installation of a collector. A variety of types of systems are available and suitable for many applications. For example, low-temperature unglazed systems can heat swimming pools and associated hot tubs or spas, saving money on conventional heating or extending the swimming season. In mild climates, passive systems without pumps or electronic controllers can provide low-maintenance hot water for facilities with limited or expensive utility service. High-temperature parabolic-trough systems can economically provide hot water to jails, hospitals, and other facilities in areas with good solar resources that consistently use large volumes of hot water. And active flat-plate systems can service any facility in any area with electric or otherwise expensive conventional water heating. http://www.eren.doe.gov/femp/prodtech/sw_water.html
Solar water heaters, sometimes called solar domestic hot water systems, may be a good investment for you and your family. Solar water heaters are cost competitive in many applications when you account for the total energy costs over the life of the system. Although the initial cost of solar water heaters is higher than that of conventional water heaters, the fuel (sunshine) is free. Plus, they are environmentally friendly. To take advantage of these heaters, you must have an unshaded, south-facing location (a roof, for example) on your property. http://www.eren.doe.gov/erec/factsheets/solrwatr.html
Most everyone has experience with passive solar water heating. How many times have you turned on the hose in the yard and nearly burnt yourself with hot water? While you weren't looking, old Sol was quietly working to give you hot water, even if you didn't want it. Well if it's that easy, imagine what you can do if you're actually trying to make hot water. Passive solar hot water systems are probably the oldest commercially available solar systems. At the turn of the century there were large numbers of solar water heating systems on roof tops, especially in Los Angeles and Florida. Very little has changed from the original concept. Put a water holding tank in a box, with glass on the side facing south and fill it with water. No moving parts, nothing to break down, free fuel and no pollution. http://www.epsea.org/wtr.html
The N.C. Solar Center Information Factsheets have been written for a consumer audience with special attention given to new homebuilders and remodelers. New factsheets are developed every year and older factsheets are revised and updated periodically. Please let us know of any topics you would like to see covered or if you find any errors in the existing publications. The written material contained herein may be reproduced by anyone in any fashion provided credit is given to the North Carolina Solar Center; the Energy Division, North Carolina Department of Commerce; and North Carolina State University. Although most of the information is of original authorship, a few have been modified from existing public information for North Carolina's climate, with credits given to original authors. Contact the N. C. Solar Center for free printed copies of the fact sheets. http://www.ncsc.ncsu.edu/fact/fact.htmReal Life thermomax heat pipe solar collector data.
http://home.soneraplaza.nl/mw/prive/aj.groot/solar.html
Solar Pump - thermal hydraulic water pumps - Deluge, Inc. is a Phoenix, Arizona based manufacturer of thermal hydraulic-powered water pumping systems with important implications for remote locations and developing regions. Deluge's core technology, the Thermal Hydraulic Engine, is designed to replace conventional diesel and electric powered pumps.
Solar Living Web - "When the grid goes down, guess who has been to the Solar Living Web page?"Whether you are considering the purchase of a pool or if you already have a pool and would like to get more use out of it, you'll find solar pool heating to be simple, dependable and affordable. In fact, solar pool heating is the largest use of solar energy in the world! - http://www.warmwater.com/
Dealers:
http://www.backwoodssolar.com/
