Solar Energy Technology deals with all aspects of solar energy systems. The fundamentals of predicting avail- ability; economic appraisal strategies; specific collector sub-systems, including a proven analytical procedure for predicting performance; and analyses of solar energy systems from dryers to greenhouses, passive solar buildings to water pumps, are covered in depth. Researchers and technologists need to have an insight into the challenges implementation entails, and this book presents practical constraints, operational considerations, and the latest research results. The book should be of great interest to students as well as professionals undertaking feasibility studies, development and implementation, technical assistance, and training assignments. Political action and pressure groups will also find the text useful for developing energy policies.

After decades of research and development, concentrating solar thermal (CST) power plants (also known as concentrating solar power (CSP) and as Solar Thermal Electricity or STE systems) are now starting to be widely commercialized. Indeed, the IEA predicts that by 2050, with sufficient support over ten percent of global electricity could be produced by concentrating solar thermal power plants. However, CSP plants are just but one of the many possible applications of CST systems. Advances in Concentrating Solar Thermal Research and Technology provides detailed information on the latest advances in CST systems research and technology. It promotes a deep understanding of the challenges the different CST technologies are confronted with, of the research that is taking place worldwide to address those challenges, and of the impact that the innovation that this research is fostering could have on the emergence of new CST components and concepts. It is anticipated that these developments will substantially increase the cost-competiveness of commercial CST solutions and reshape the technological landscape of both CST technologies and the CST industry. After an introductory chapter, the next three parts of the book focus on key CST plant components, from mirrors and receivers to thermal storage. The final two parts of the book address operation and control and innovative CST system concepts. - Contains authoritative reviews of CST research taking place around the world - Discusses the impact this research is fostering on the emergence of new CST components and concepts that will substantially increase the cost-competitiveness of CST power - Covers both major CST plant components and system-wide issues

The proceedings entitled “Concentrated Solar Thermal Technologies: Recent Trends and Applications” includes the peer-reviewed selected papers those are presented during NCSTET 2016. The sub-topics under concentrated solar thermal technologies and applications included in the book are Solar Field; Receiver and Heat Exchanger; Coating; Thermal Energy Storage; Cooling; Process Heat; and Smart Grid and Policy Research. The domains mentioned cover topics from resource-assessment, collection to conversion of solar energy for applications, like, heating, cooling and electricity. The proceedings also include invited lectures from domain experts. The edited work will be useful for beginners and for the advanced level researchers in the field of concentrated solar thermal technologies and their applications.

Systems engineered by man to harness solar heat in a controlled manner now include a diverse range of technologies each serving distinctive needs in particular climate contexts. This text covers the breadth of solar energy technologies for the conversion of solar energy to provide heat, either as the directly-used output or as an intermediary to other uses such as power generation or cooling. It is a wholly updated, extended and revised version of “Solar Energy Thermal Technology” first published in 1992. The text draws on the own author’s research and that of numerous colleagues and collaborators at Cranfield University, University of Ulster, Dublin Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and University of Nigeria. The initial chapters deal with relevant fundamental aspects of solar energy meteorology, radiative heat transfer, material properties and energy storage. Solar energy collectors are discussed in detail before a set of chapters deal with each of the full range of applications. The early chapters consider: the solar energy resource, its distribution in geographical, spectral, skyward geometrical and temporal domains; the physics of solar energy absorption, transmission and loss at surfaces; and techniques for storing collected solar energy. Specific collector sub-systems are then discussed in chapters seven to nine. For each system, practical issues are discussed and a proven analytical procedure for predicting performance described. Similarly analyses are presented in the concluding chapters on solar energy systems. These range from dryers to greenhouses to systems that render buildings solar energy systems in themselves and the associated design issues. The context for any use of solar energy is the prevailing climate. This text, being global in scope, definates the most appropriate regions for particular technologies and applications. It is a research-orientated academic work citing publications on the peer-reviewed literature covering engineering and applied science topics intended both for student use, as a reference tool for teaching solar energy and for those researching solar thermal applications in universities, industry or national/commercial laboratories. Insight into the challenges of implementation including practical constraints and operational considerations are provided to aid those undertaking feasibility studies, technical assistance, training assignments or operating testing facilities.

This important contribution to the issue of renewable energy describes the technical and economical requirements of mass-produced solar thermal power plants, from the different types of power plants to the development needs and a massive development program. The authors - renowned and experienced experts in the field - show that solar thermal power plants, because of their simple technology, are easy to build with high production rates and therefore can play a substantial role in the rapid substitution of fossil fuels. On the basis of solar thermal power (using long distance transmission) and coal from substituted coal plants, a future energy system is described supplying gas and liquid fuels. This is the first discussion of a complete concept, of a crash-strategy, for the partial replacement of oil and natural gas.

This book addresses the evaluation and optimization of key elements in concentrating solar thermal (CST) technologies, such as solar receivers and working fluids, using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. It discusses both general and specific aspects, explaining the methodology used to analyze and evaluate the influence of different parameters on the facility performance. This information provides the basis for optimizing design and operating conditions in CST systems.