Solar Radiation Devices and Collectors

Abstract

The practical applications and beneficial uses of solar radiation require consideration of engineering aspects in order that the use of the solar energy is efficient and sustainable. For instance, in any design of solar energy powered devices, it is necessary to know how the power density will vary during the day, from season to season, and also the effect of tilting a collector surface at some angle to the horizontal. From the practical point of view, for most purposes solar energy applications can be divided into two components, namely, direct (beam) radiation and scattered or diffuse radiation.

Solar energy is expected to be the foundation of a sustainable energy economy, because sunlight is the most abundant renewable energy resource. Additionally, solar energy can be harnessed in an almost infinite variety of ways beginning with simple solar cookers now used in different parts of the world. There is a vast amount of literature about the use of solar energy both in engineering and architectural design procedures and projects. It is not possible to present all these studies herein, but the proper references with a brief description will be provided in this chapter so that the reader can find further information on the topic.