Solar Thermal - Other Applications
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At a glance |
The solar heat captured through the use of collectors can be used in a variety of applications - very much like any other form of heat. Such applications include cooking, cooling, drying and other. In each case, there is a need to adapt the collector and associated equipment to the need.
Solar cookers are usually designed in a compact form, and reflect the sun to the cooking pot. Current solar cooker designs and applications emerged on the market in the 1950s. Most solar cookers operated today are being deployed in developing countries, refugee camps and places where cooking fuel is scarce, expensive or dangerous to use or acquire - but sun is abundant. Solar cookers, most of which are slow cookers, require little operation time, especially in equatorial latitudes. Applications for solar cookers in Canada's climate include slow cooking, food processing, distillation, sterilization, incubation, liquefying honey and food drying/dehydrating.
Solar air-cooling, or solar air-conditioning, is a relatively new application of established solar and thermal chilling technology. Solar cooling has a great potential as the demand for cooling coincides well with the availability of the solar resource. Interest in solar cooling is growing considerably as the use of electric air conditioners continues to grow around the world. Concerns of global warming and adverse environmental impact of refrigerants add to the potential and urgency need for alternative cooling technologies. Solar hot water collectors, such as the flat plate glazed collectors or more commonly the higher temperature evacuated tube collectors, are used to assist thermally driven cooling processes. The majority of the solar cooling systems in use are for large industrial or commercial uses such as office buildings, warehouses, factories, animal barns and hotels. Almost all thermal cooling systems use refrigerants that do not contain CFCs and are considered environmentally friendly.
These technologies are still at the developmental stage and more research and development is needed to further bring the cost down and increase the efficiency of solar cooling systems. While solar thermal technologies are currently the primary use of solar in cooling, research and development is ongoing in photovoltaic and heat pumps for cooling, also in combination with geothermal technology.
Solar cooking and cooling technologies have the potential to significantly reduce the use of gas, electricity, wood and other fuels for cooking, food processing, cooling, and a wide variety of other applications. Solar cookers, in particular can be homemade with readily available materials and many designs are available on the web. Solar cooker technology offers many possible applications for domestic, agricultural and commercial uses. Cooling on the other hand requires more sophisticated technology.
A list of equipment manufacturers, suppliers and contractors can be found on CanSIA's website: www.cansia.ca
Énergie Solaire Québec sells for a small fee (free with membership) a list of renewable energy suppliers and businesses in Quebec. http://www.esq.qc.ca/
For more information, read the full technical notes solar cooking and cooling -air conditioning
Modified: 06-13-2008
