Solar Thermal Technology

The Role of energy in economic development and social transformation has been the key factor in developing a nation. Major topics under this unit include; Solar Energy and Its Conversion, Basics of Heat Transfer, energy Storage, Solar Passive Systems and Green House effect.

COURSE JUSTIFICATION/RATIONALE

To study fundamentals and application of solar thermal systems for heating, cooling, power generation and other applications

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this course, the student should be able to:

 Explain the available equipments necessary to change solar energy to usable electrical energy for consumption.

 Discuss the properties of solar radiation before and after being transmitted through the atmosphere and what limitations there are in the radiation measurements

Explain the solar radiation data in international databases

 Calculate and judge the effect of the orientation of the receiving surface in terms of gained energy

Describe different solar methods for solar thermal generation of electricity with help of solar concentrators.

 Design stand-alone as well as grid connected solar thermally generated systems and choose components for optimal performance

LEARNING OUTCOMES

A student completing the course is expected to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

Equipments necessary to change solar energy to usable electrical energy for consumption.

The properties of solar radiation before and after being transmitted through the atmosphere and what limitations there are in the radiation measurements

The solar radiation data in international databases

The effect of the orientation of the receiving surface in terms of gained energy

Different solar methods for solar thermal generation of electricity with help of solar concentrators.

 Design features of stand-alone as well as grid connected solar thermally generated systems and choose components for optimal performance