Air solar collectors in building use - A review

Andrei-Stelian Bejan,Cristiana Croitoru,Abdelouhab Labihi,Tiberiu Catalina,C Balan,M.C Balan

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/20183201003

Abstract

In the current energy and environmental context it is imperative to implement systems based on renewable energy sources in order to reduce energy consumptions worldwide. Solar collectors are studied by many years and many researchers are focusing their attention in order to increase their efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Water solar collectors are often implemented for domestic hot water, heating or industrial processes and already have a place on the market. A promising system which is not yet widely known is represented by air solar collectors that could represent an efficient way to use the solar energy with a lower investment cost, a system that can be used in order to preheat the fresh air required for heating, drying, or to maintain a minimum temperature during winter. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review on air solar collectors used mainly in buildings, acting as a solar wall. Air solar collectors are roughly classified into two types: glazed and opaque. The present study comprises the solar collector classification, applications and their main parameters with a special focus on opaque solar collectors.

Highlights

The renewable sources can provide low-cost energy consumption solutions when using passive systems
The use of systems which are using solar energy is largely acknowledged, being easy to implement and efficient from the accessibility point of view in the zones with solar potential. Such systems can respond to the European Directives concerning energy performance of buildings [1] which impose significant reduction of the energy consumption
Thermal systems can be classified into four important categories: systems that use a massive wall to store heat, systems that use water to store the heat, systems that use eutectic materials and solar collectors

Summary

Introduction

The renewable sources can provide low-cost energy consumption solutions when using passive systems Among these renewable sources, the use of systems which are using solar energy is largely acknowledged, being easy to implement and efficient from the accessibility point of view in the zones with solar potential. The heat transfer between the fluid and the metal is enhanced depending on the flow's characteristics and other external parameters Studies such as the ones of Van Decker et al [6], Gunnewieck et al [7, 8] are very interesting, given the information regarding the direct possibilities of improvement of these perforations and since the form of the orifices can be an important factor. Transfer increase, but no significant studies have been published [9]

Classification

Applications

Functioning parameters and energy efficiency of opaque solar collectors

Findings

Conclusions