Elements Solar architecture

1 elements

1.1 greenhouse
1.2 photothermic module
1.3 photovoltaic module
1.4 thermal storage
1.5 electrical storage
1.6 white wall
1.7 black wall
1.8 solar tracker
1.9 solar mask
1.10 solar chimney
1.11 solar parabola

elements
greenhouse

greenhouse in canada.

a greenhouse keeps heat sun. in double glazed greenhouse, 3 effects occur : no convection (air blocking), ray keeping (the ground absorbs photon, emits lower infrared energy, , glass reflects infrared ground) , little conduction (double glazing). seems convection effect important greenhouses in poor countries made of plastic.

the greenhouse can used grow plants in winter, grow tropical plants, terrarium reptiles or insects, or air comfort. must ventilated, not much, otherwise convection make inside colder, losing desired effect. greenhouse may combined heat storage or opaque mask.

photothermic module

photothermic modules on roof.

photothermic modules convert solar light heat. heat domestic water 80 °c (353 k). put facing sunny cardinal point, rather pointing towards horizon avoid overheat in summer, , take more calories in winter. in 45° north place, module should face south , angle horizontal should 70°.

the use of intermediate solar heat systems evacuated tubes, compound parabolic, parabolic trough, discussed correspond specific, intermediate needs. customer wants cheap system naturally prefer photothermic, giving 80 °c (353 k) hot water 70-85 % efficiency. customer wants high temperatures naturally prefer solar parabola, giving 200 °c (573 k) 70-85 % efficiency.

do photothermic modules cheaper , can use spiral pipe, hot water coming center of module. other geometries exist, serpentine or quadrangular.

if on flat roof, mirror can placed in front of photothermic module give more sunlight.

the photothermic module has become popular in mediterranean countries, greece , spain counting 30-40 % of homes equipped system, , becoming part of landscape.

photovoltaic module

photovoltaic tiles on roof.

photovoltaic modules convert solar light electricity. classical silicon solar modules have 25 % efficiency rigid , cannot placed on curves. thin film solar modules flexible, have lower efficiency , lifetime.

photovoltaic tiles combine useful pleasant providing tile-like photovoltaic surfaces.

a pragmatic rule put photovoltaic surface facing sunny cardinal point, latitude-equal angle horizontal. example, if house 33° south, put photovoltaic surface facing north 33° horizontal. rule comes general standard of roof angle, norm in solar architecture.

thermal storage

the simplest solar heat water system place hot water storage tank towards sun , paint in black.

a thick ground of rock in greenhouse allows keep of heat through night. rock absorb heat in day , emit in night. water has best thermal capacity common material , remains sure value.

electrical storage

in autonomous (off-grid) photovoltaic systems, batteries used store excess of electricity, , deliver when needed in night.

grid-connected systems can use interseasonal storage pumped-storage hydroelectricity. innovative storage method, compressed air energy storage, being studied, , may applied @ scale of region or home, whether cave or tank used store compressed air.

white wall

white walled church in santorini.

in greek islands, houses painted in white chase irradiation heat outside of house, making house cooler. white walls covered lime , blue roofs make greek islands traditional house style, appreciated tourists outside colors, , inhabitants inside cooler air.

black wall

black walled house in norway

in nordic countries, contrary : houses painted in black better absorb irradiation heat. basalt interesting material naturally black , exhibits high thermal storage capacity.

solar tracker

part of, or entire house can track sun s race in sky catch light. heliotrope, first positive energy house in world, rotates around catch sunlight, converted electricity photovoltaic modules, heating house through translucent glass.

tracking requires electronics , automatics. there 2 ways let system know sun is : instrumental , theoretical. instrumental method uses captors of light detect sun s place. theoretical method uses astronomical formulas know sun s place. 1 or 2 axis motors make solar system rotate face sun , catch more of sunlight.

a photovoltaic or photothermic module can gain more 50 % of production tracker system.

solar mask

the heliodome has shadow in summer, sunlight in winter.

sometimes heat becomes high, may want mask shadow. heliodome has been built in such way roof hides sun in summer avoid overheating, , lets sunlight pass in winter.

as mask, opaque material fine. curtain, cliff, wall, can solar masks. if leafy tree put in front of greenhouse, may hide greenhouse in summer, , let sunlight go in, in winter, when leaves have fallen.

we need remember shadows not work same according season. using season change shadow in summer, light in winter, general rule solar mask.

solar chimney

a solar chimney chimney of outside black color. used in roman antiquity ventilation system @ time electricity did not exist. black surface makes chimney heat sunlight. air inside gets warmer , moves up, pumping air underground, @ 15 °c (288 k) year. traditional air-ground exchanger used make houses cool in summer, mild in winter.

the solar chimney may coupled badgir or wood chimney stronger effect.

solar parabola

the auroville s solar parabola.

a solar parabola parabolic mirror concentrates sunlight reach high temperatures. in auroville s collective kitchen, large solar parabola on roof provides heat cooking.

the solar parabola can used industrial building. odeillo solar furnace, 1 of largest solar parabola in world, concentrates sunlight 10,000 times , reaches temperatures above 3,200 k. no material resists, diamond melts. opens vision of futuristic metallurgy, using clean , renewable source of energy.