Author Archives: Paul
Heat Storage
A device or medium that absorbs collected solar heat and stores it for use during periods of inclement or cold weather. One example would be a solar storage tank for a solar domestic hot water system, which is typically a inexpensive electric hot water tank with the elements removed or unwired.
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Heat Pipe
An evacuated rod or pipe used for heat transfer. In solar thermal collectors these are found connected to the collector fin inside evacuated tubes. Other renewable energy technologies also use variations on this design.
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Heat Exchanger
A device, such as a coiled copper tube immersed in a tank of water, that is used to transfer heat from one fluid to another through a separating wall.
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Heat Capacity
A property of a material denoting its ability to absorb heat. For example, copper has a better heat capacity than wood, or some other metals, which is why we use copper as the collector absorption fin.
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Headers
The pipe that runs across the edge of an array of solar collectors, gathering or distributing the heat transfer fluid from, or to the risers in the individual collectors. This insures that equal flow rates and pressure are maintained.
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Gross Area
The total surface area of the collector including the frame, manifold and absorber. This area is often used when comparing collectors, but a better comparison to use is value for money. Roof size is not usually a limiting factor for domestic solar water heating installations, so the size of the collector is not really that [...]
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Gravity Convection
The natural movement of heat that occurs when a warm fluid rises and a cool fluid sinks under the influence of gravity.
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Glaubers Salt
Sodium sulfate a eutectic salt that melts at 90°F. and absorbs about 104 Btu per pound as it does so.
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Getters
A column or cartridge containing an active metal which will be sacrificed to protect some other metal in the system against galvanic corrosion.
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Heat Storage Capacity