How Is Heat Transferred Through Solar Heating?
The Energy Information Administration states that solar heating can be used to heat homes, buildings and swimming pools plus used for space heating in homes and other structures. Heat is transferred in solar by one of two methods. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Sun Energy
-
The sun provides an abundance of light and it's the Earth's most available energy source. This energy source can be converted into power by photovoltaic (PV) devices or solar thermal collectors.
PV Devices
-
PV devices use solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity. When photons hit the solar cell materials (silicon) they produce electrons. Electricity is then provided to a grid for the purpose of providing heat.
-
Solar Generation
-
Solar thermal power plants generate heat by the use of the sun's rays to heat a fluid at a very high temperature. The fluid's heat is transferred through pipes to heat water in order to produce steam. A turbine uses the steam to create mechanical energy, driving a generator which produces electricity.
Thermal Collectors
-
Solar collectors use materials that absorb sunlight and heat up a specific area. When air passes through the area it is then heated up and sent to the rest of the home or business.
Solar Towers
-
Another method for transferring heat from solar energy is through the use of a solar power tower. Thousands of flat sun-tracking mirrors called heliostats track sunlight and focus the sun's energy into a central receiver tower. The fluid inside is heated by the energy and then it's used to generate electricity.
-
