Solar Thermal Systems (For Engineers)

(One Year Diploma Course for Graduate Engineers)

1. Basic Modules: Energy Situation in the world, Energy flux diagram of earth, Solar Energy
Principle, Renewable Energy Sources, overview of possible applications, renewable
Energy in India: Achievements and Potential, Environmental consideration.
2. Principles of Solar Energy: Sun as Energy Source, Heat and Electricity Generation,
General Principles of Solar Thermal Systems, Heat Transfer Fundamentals, Solar
Collectors: Flat Plate, Evacuated Tube Collector, Characteristic Equations,
Standardization, Comparison of Collector Systems.
3. Low Temperature Application: Fundamental Principles, Swimming Pool Heating, Solar
Hot water Systems: Storage Tank, Connecting Pipes, Mounting, Pump, Valves, Control
Unit, Heat exchanger etc., Space heating Systems, Process Heat, Types of Systems:
Thermo siphon, Forced Flow, Expansion Tank, Absorber Coatings, Cover, Insulation,
Galvanization.
4. Storage Tank: Material (Steel, Stainless Steel, Plastic), Combi – Storage, Non-pressurized
and Pressurized Tanks, Solar System Storage Tank, Storage with Stratification, Storage
Tank with Gas as auxiliary.
5. Connecting Pipe: Size, Plumbing Techniques, Expansion tank sizing, Safety valves, Non-
return valves, Return Flow Preventer.
6. Heat Exchangers: Basic of Thermodynamics, Type of Heat Exchangers, Materials,
Corrosion Protection, Dimensioning.
7. Heat Pump and Solar Air-Conditioning: Thermodynamics, Vapor Compression System,
Solar Absorption System, Choice of System, Sizing.
8. Planning and Designing: Planning process, Estimates of Components’ sizing, Site
selection, Detailed Calculations, Collector, Heat Exchanger, Storage Tank, Expansion
Tank, Mounting, piping, Pump, Control unit, Detailed Cost Estimates, Mounting and
Installation, planning with Software Commissioning, Checks & Maintenance.
9. Concentrating Collectors: Basic concentration concepts, Mirror optics: Solar and
Brightness Distribution, Errors in Concentration, Flux density and concentration, Ideal
concentrators, Parabolic Geometries, Other Geometries, Central Receivers: Scaling
Relationships, Shading calculations, Flux Density Distribution at Receiver, Design Issue
and Constraints: System level Performance, Layout.
10. Aspects of Solar Power Plant Engineering: Solar and conventional Power plant:
Similarities and Differences, Engineering Aspects: Collection, Energy conversion,
Characterization and Physical Properties of Solar Power Plant, Design Aspects: Factors in
fluencing Power and Energy Performance, Design Objectives, design Process and
Parameters.
11. Thermal Receivers: Principle and concepts of energy Transfer, Thermodynamic basis for
Receiver Design, Receiver Designs; Tube Receiver Concepts, Volumetric Receiver
Concept, Direct Absorption Receiver Concept, Design and Type of Applications,
Measurement Technique, Receiver Loss Calculation: Examples.
12. Thermal Storage for Solar Power Plants: Impact of Storage on Solar Power plant:
Capacity Factor and Solar Multiple, Media for Thermal Storage: Sensible Heat Storage,
Latent Heat Storage, Chemical Storage, Thermal Storage for Solar Power Plant, Oil-
Cooled, Steam Cooled, Molten Salt Cooled, Sodium Cooled, Gas Cooled.
13. Experience on Solar Thermal Power Plants: Line Focussing Collectors, Point Focussing
Collectors, Central Receiver Plants, Individual Dish Solar Power Plant, Performance
Comparison, Performance Model, Economic Analysis.
14. Analysis of Solar Power Plants: SPP technologies in Comparison, Investment O&M,
Economic Analysis, Market Considerations.
15. Solar Fuel and Hydrogen: Receiver reactors for Solar Chemistry, High Temperature
Processes and conversion, Reforming of Methane, high temperature processes by direct
absorption, Electrolytic Production of Hydrogen.