Solar thermal energy consists of the transformation of solar energy into thermal energy. It is a form of renewable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly energy. This way of generating energy can be applied in homes and small installations, and large power plants. There are three main uses of solar thermal systems:
The basic scheme of a solar thermal energy installation is as follows: These are two closed circuits with a heat exchanger. In the primary circuit, the cold heat transfer fluid passes through the solar panels. Radiation from the Sun heats it and goes to a heat exchanger to transfer thermal energy to the secondary circuit and then, repeat the cycle.
Solar thermal energy has a wide range of industrial and domestic applications, such as solar thermal electricity, solar space heating, solar desalination, solar industrial air heating, solar water heating, solar cooling, and so on.
The active solar thermal systems are usually equipped with the rood mounted flat plate collectors for the circulation of liquids or fluids. These flat plate collectors absorb the heat energy coming from the solar radiations, and the circulating fluids carry it to the desired location, like home heating system or swimming pools.
Solar thermal facilities need energy support systems. These systems prevent a lack of solar radiation or a consumption higher than the dimensioned. These energy support systems can be from various sources: Directly from the electricity company's network. Other sources of renewable energy - for example, wind energy.
In solar thermal power plants, solar radiation is concentrated at one point to produce steam. The steam drives a steam turbine that converts the energy to mechanical energy to drive an electric generator. The thermodynamic performance is low, but the price of fuel is zero.