The Various Designs of Storage Solar Collectors: A Review

Abstract

The use of solar energy to heat water is the more critical application of solar energy. Researchers are trying to develop different methods to improve the efficiency of solar water heaters to meet the increasing demand for hot water due to global population growth. To reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of solar heaters, the solar collector and the storage tank are combined into one part, and this system is called solar storage collector. It can be defined as geometric shapes filled with water, painted black, and placed under the influence of sunlight to gain the largest amount of solar energy. This article presents the various designs of solar storage collector. This review showed that design variables and design shape significantly affect the efficiency of the solar heating system. Climate and operational factors also have a strong influence on the performance of solar heating. Furthermore, scientists and researchers have also used nanotechnology, solar cells, and mirrors to improve other stored solar collectors' performance. Finally, recently published articles indicate an increase in interest in improving the efficiency of solar storage collector by creating new designs that enhance the economic and practical viability.

A Comparative Study of Solar Heater Technologies for Domestic Water Heating

“…Users may not know the pros, cons, and operations of various systems. Education and outreach are essential to demystify and promote the technology [18].…”

“…These glazed collectors outperform their unglazed counterparts in absorbing solar energy across a broader temperature range [24]. Special coatings might be applied to the heatabsorbing materials to increase their effectiveness [25]. To save money on fuel, conventional water boilers often employ preheated water from collectors made of glazed flat plates.…”

“…This technique, known as an evacuated tube solar collector, is designed to absorb and store as much solar energy as possible without losing any of the heat. Thin copper tubes filled with a heat-transfer fluid are housed within larger vacuum-sealed glass or plastic tubes to create these collectors [25]. Due to the greater surface area exposed to the sun, the design allows for effective heat absorption from the sun at a variety of angles.…”

Performance augmentation of photovoltaic solar chimneys using asphalt material

“…14 It has become essential for engineers and scientists to find ways to accumulate energy to ensure the continuity of energy access to consumers. 15 In recent years, scientists have focused on improving and increasing the efficiency of SC systems through various means to achieve a SC system that can compete with other power systems. One of the most important of these methods is the usage of phase-change materials, the use of photovoltaic (PV) panels, or the integration of SC systems with alternative energy sources, whether non-conventional or traditional.…”

“…Solar systems in general, especially SCs, suffer from two main problems, which are their low efficiency and the inability to work at night and on cloudy or sandy days 14 . It has become essential for engineers and scientists to find ways to accumulate energy to ensure the continuity of energy access to consumers 15 . In recent years, scientists have focused on improving and increasing the efficiency of SC systems through various means to achieve a SC system that can compete with other power systems.…”