Solar Thermal Active Air Heating

The perforated cladding system figure 1 is a bare plate solar collector that uses fans to draw air through thousands of tiny holes in a layer of unglazed dark metal plating which acts as the solar absorber.

Solar thermal active air heating.

Solar thermal collectors are either non concentrating or concentrating. The arctica solar 1500 series heater is a very unique stand alone solar air heater. Other active solar in addition to solar panels there are a number of more specialist active solar systems. The heat could be used to heat up a thermal mass inside the building so that even when it is cloudy the mass.

During the heating cycle the trombe wall radiates stored heat. Some provide a contribution towards space heating for example by pre heating air for a warm air central heating system or contain specially designed collectors in a solar wall. The major difference between the two is that an active solar system has an active element which moves the heat from the collector and absorber to the thermal mass or. Active solar heating uses the hot rays of the sun to heat water or air which is them moved inside the building warming up the interior.

If the solar system cannot provide adequate space heating an auxiliary or back up system provides the additional heat. Active solar heating works under the same basic principle as passive solar. A solar thermal collector collects heat by absorbing sunlight the term solar collector commonly refers to a device for solar hot water heating but may refer to large power generating installations such as solar parabolic troughs and solar towers or non water heating devices such as solar air heaters. That s where active solar comes in.

A pv panel powers the air circulation fan which is controlled by a simple thermostat in the conditioned space. Active solar heating systems use solar energy to heat a fluid either liquid or air and then transfer the solar heat directly to the interior space or to a storage system for later use. Active solar air heating systems a more recent development use fans to draw in circulate and exhaust air. A trombe wall is a passive solar heating and ventilation system consisting of an air channel sandwiched between a window and a sun facing thermal mass.

The system provides 1500 watts equivalent heating capacity and since it comes ready to mount out of the box its designed for the diy installer.