Solar Thermal Energy Course

Lesson 1 • Solar Resource Assessment

Teaches methods to quantify available solar energy at a site using data tools. Enables accurate energy yield estimation before system design begins.

Lesson 2 • Solar Radiation and the Sun

Covers solar spectrum, irradiance, and seasonal variation. Establishes the energy source basis for all subsequent thermal system design.

Lesson 3 • Heat Transfer Principles

Introduces conduction, convection, and radiation as applied to solar collectors. Connects thermal physics to real collector performance.

Lesson 1 • Concentrating Collector Systems

Introduces parabolic trough, dish, and linear Fresnel concentrators for high-temperature applications. Links concentration ratio to achievable fluid temperatures.

Lesson 2 • Collector Performance Testing

Explains standardized test procedures and efficiency parameters used to compare collectors. Enables informed product selection using certified test data.

Lesson 3 • Collector Selection Criteria

Guides matching collector type to application temperature, climate, and budget. Synthesizes prior sections into a practical decision framework.

Lesson 4 • Evacuated Tube Collectors

Covers heat pipe and direct-flow tube designs and their vacuum insulation advantage. Explains performance gains in cold and diffuse-light conditions.

Lesson 1 • Expansion Vessels and Safety Devices

Details pressure relief valves, expansion vessels, and air venting components. Ensures students can design systems that operate safely under thermal expansion.

Lesson 2 • Heat Exchangers and Storage Tanks

Covers shell-and-tube, plate, and coil-in-tank exchangers alongside stratified storage design. Establishes how thermal energy is transferred and stored effectively.

Lesson 3 • Heat Transfer Fluids

Covers water, glycol mixtures, and synthetic oils used as collector loop fluids. Links fluid properties to freeze protection, boiling risk, and material compatibility.

Lesson 4 • Piping Design and Insulation

Covers pipe material selection, sizing, layout, and thermal insulation standards. Minimizes heat loss and ensures reliable long-term hydraulic performance.

Lesson 1 • Collector Array Sizing Methods

Introduces f-chart, simplified ratio, and simulation-based sizing approaches. Enables selection of the appropriate method for project scale and data availability.

Lesson 2 • Domestic Hot Water Load Analysis

Quantifies daily hot water demand based on occupancy and usage patterns. Provides the demand baseline required for accurate system sizing.

Lesson 3 • Commercial and Multi-Family Systems

Scales design principles to larger buildings with centralized or distributed arrays. Addresses hydraulic balancing and zoning for complex installations.

Lesson 4 • Storage Volume and Backup Heating

Determines optimal tank volume relative to collector area and demand. Integrates auxiliary heating to ensure reliable supply on low-solar days.

Lesson 1 • Building Thermal Load Fundamentals

Covers heat loss calculation, U-values, and degree-day methods for space heating loads. Establishes the demand input needed for solar space heating design.

Lesson 2 • Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage

Covers pit, aquifer, borehole, and tank storage for inter-seasonal solar heat. Evaluates storage feasibility based on geology, scale, and economic factors.

Lesson 3 • Radiant Floor and Low-Temperature Heating

Details radiant floor and low-temperature radiator systems compatible with solar supply temperatures. Maximizes collector efficiency by minimizing return temperatures.

Lesson 4 • Solar Cooling Technologies

Introduces absorption, adsorption, and desiccant cooling driven by solar heat. Explains the coefficient of performance and temperature requirements for each technology.

Lesson 1 • Solar Heat Integration with Industry

Explains heat exchanger network integration and pinch analysis for solar process heat. Ensures solar input is optimally placed within existing industrial energy systems.

Lesson 2 • High-Temperature Concentrating Systems

Details parabolic trough and Fresnel systems for temperatures above 250°C. Addresses tracking accuracy, heat transfer fluid selection, and thermal storage integration.

Lesson 3 • Industrial System Performance Monitoring

Covers sensor placement, data acquisition, and key performance indicators for industrial solar heat. Enables ongoing verification of energy delivery and system health.

Lesson 4 • Industrial Heat Demand Analysis

Profiles temperature levels, load schedules, and process types in industrial facilities. Identifies integration points where solar heat can displace fossil fuel use.

Lesson 1 • Fluid Filling and System Commissioning

Explains glycol mixing, filling station use, and initial system startup checks. Verifies correct flow rates, temperatures, and control responses at commissioning.

Lesson 2 • Collector Mounting and Roof Integration

Details mounting frame types, waterproofing, and wind load anchoring for roof installations. Ensures structural integrity and weathertight penetrations.

Lesson 3 • Site Assessment and Pre-Installation Planning

Covers roof load assessment, shading analysis, and access planning before installation. Prevents costly errors by resolving site constraints at the planning stage.

Lesson 4 • Health, Safety, and Electrical Integration

Addresses working-at-height safety, hot fluid hazards, and pump electrical connections. Ensures compliance with occupational safety standards throughout installation.

Lesson 1 • Advanced Control Strategies

Covers variable-flow control, weather-compensated setpoints, and building management system integration. Improves energy yield and comfort beyond basic on/off control.

Lesson 2 • Differential Temperature Control

Explains how differential controllers compare collector and tank sensors to activate pumps. Covers setpoint selection, hysteresis, and anti-legionella functions.

Lesson 3 • Performance Monitoring and Data Analysis

Establishes energy metering, yield benchmarking, and trend analysis for operational systems. Enables early detection of performance degradation before it becomes costly.

Lesson 4 • Fault Diagnosis and Corrective Action

Provides a systematic troubleshooting methodology for common solar thermal faults. Reduces downtime by enabling rapid identification and resolution of system problems.