How do solar thermal work? Solar thermals are user of heat to provide energy. It comes from the word solar and thermal, which means sun and heat respectively. They are able to incorporate solar radiation’s heating component to a fluid, which is then used as …show more content…
Through analyzing data from solar thermal station, Trainer (2014a) proclaims that for a solar thermal to even begins working, there must be at least 400 W/m2 of radiation in the area else no energy is produce (p 58). If the amount of radiation is too low, there would not be enough heat to actually warm the fluid and the pipes and thus the system will not be able to provide the energy as the requirement is absent. In an environment where light is limited, it is questionable whether solar thermal would be a beneficial system unless there is another source of usable …show more content…
Quaschning experimented with solar thermal in Africa, where it is hot year around and receive an abundant of light. Quaschning (2004) found that in a year, solar thermal plants produce about 160 kWh/m2 (p 177). Under a disadvantageous environment, the production is lower. Likewise, Thirugnanasambandam, Iniyan and Goic (2009) found that in Europe and North Africa, production ranges from 923 – 2438 kWh/m2 (p 318). The varying range is mostly like due to the different environment’s radiation level and heating amount. Europe, which is further up will be colder and receive less daylight due to its location and produce less energy, whereas North Africa is hotter and receive more light because it is closer to the equator and produce more